Why we freed 4,082 minors from prisons nationwide – FG
The Federal Government’s recent release of over 4,082 inmates is expected to save the country more than ₦1 billion annually, while also helping to decongest correctional centers nationwide.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who disclosed this during the yearly Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, yesterday, revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the feeding allowances of inmates.
This was as his Information and National Orientation counterpart, Mohammed Idris, said the President “is fully committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Nigerians.”
Tunji-Ojo also said Tinubu equally approved the relocation of 29 correctional centres within residential areas due to urban development.
According to him, a correctional centre should be located 100 metres away from residential buildings.
For instance, the correctional centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is located opposite the Government House, while Suleja Prison is now within the community.
The interior minister noted that over 3,000 buildings in more than 240 correctional centres were being renovated. Some of them were built over 50 years ago, while one of them was constructed in 1914.
“If we know where we were, we will appreciate where we are,” he said, noting that the Tinubu administration had recorded two jailbreaks and no jail attacks.
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A jailbreak, he explained, is organised by the inmates, while a jail attack is orchestrated from outside the prison.
IDRIS, in his remarks at the Ministerial Media Briefing Series, organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, described Tinubu as a true democrat.
“He also encourages constructive criticism and healthy opposition because of their essential role in reinforcing and deepening our democratic framework,” Idris said.
The minister expressed appreciation to the media for their dedication in covering the briefing.
He said the 2025 briefing took place within a significant period, as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was also marking its 70th anniversary.
According to him, this is a milestone that reflects NUJ’s enduring commitment to press freedom and journalistic excellence.
“I hereby take the liberty to reaffirm the commitment of Tinubu’s administration to upholding press freedom and creating a conducive environment for media practice in Nigeria. This administration believes that a free and responsible press is essential for good governance, transparency, and national development,” Idris said.
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