From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Nigerian Correctional Service to address the perennial issue of congestion and overcrowding in its custodial facilities across the country.
Governor Diri made the call when the Zonal Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, in charge of Zone i, Mr. Njoku Akujobi, led a delegation of officers of the Service to pay him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Yenagoa.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, emphasized that the issues of congestion, overcrowding, and poor ration among inmates in the correctional facilities ought to be holistically addressed to achieve the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
Drawing a parallel between Nigerian prisons and that of some other countries, Governor Diri noted that the fundamental goal of the correctional service, which is to reform offenders must truly reflect on how it treats inmates in all the custodial centres.
The Bayelsa helmsman, who opined that some category of prison sentences could be converted to community service as obtainable in other climes, expressed concern that there had been cases of compromise among prison staff leading to prison-breaks in a number of instances.
He, however, commended the Controller of Corrections, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Ikahokhule Imo, for the good job he is doing, and called on the Nigerian Correctional Service to reward him accordingly.
His words: “First, I am happy that we have changed our name from Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service. But it shouldn’t be like the change of the skin of the snake that doesn’t change its character.
“We changed our name, but to what extent are we correcting? Because at the end of the day, we must be comparatively thinking that if an average, common man is jailed in a Nigerian prison, the treatment he gets, is that what his counterparts in other parts of the world gets?
“What is crippling our responsibility? The issue of congestion, the issue of overcrowding, and the issue of ration among inmates. Yes, they have committed crimes, but does that make them lesser human beings and their human rights should be diluted? These are the issues.
“We really want to recommend that we look at that aspect of our correctional service. We need to work together, because the issue may not be entirely your fault. But if we – the courts, the police and yourself – all work together, we can change the situation for good. ”
Making his remarks earlier, the Assistant Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Zone i, Mr. Njoku Akujobi, acknowledged the good relationship between the state command of the Service and the Bayelsa State Government.
Mr. Akujobi, who recently assumed duty in the zone comprising Bayelsa and Rivers States, explained that his visit was part of a familiarization tour to custodial facilities in the two states, and called for greater collaboration.
He thanked the State Government for its unparalleled support so far, including building of perimeter fence and prison cells, as well as providing utility vehicles to the Bayelsa command of the Correctional Service.
