Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has affirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the condition of correctional facilities in the state.
Otti spoke, on Friday, when the Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Owerri, Zone E, Dr Ngozi Amanze, visited him in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
He said that the centres must reflect their mandate of rehabilitation, rather than punishment.
He said that the renaming of Nigerian prisons to Nigerian Correctional Service was a significant step, as it underscores the hope and rehabilitation expected of such facilities.
Otti recalled that shortly after assuming office, he met a former National Assembly member, Sen. Shehu Sani, who told him he would only visit Abia again after the completion of renovations at the Aba Correctional Centre, where he was once detained during the Abacha regime.
The governor said that the encounter prompted him to send a team to assess the condition of the facility and their visit coincided with a complaint from NCoS over encroachment by members of the host community.
According to him, Abia Government immediately re-established the facility’s boundaries and commenced fencing to prevent tresspassal.
He said that similar interventions were initiated at the Ohafia and Arochukwu centres.
He expressed concern over the current inmate population, describing 1,935 inmates as “a very large number”.
Otti said that the target should be “decongestion without releasing persons involved in serious offences”.
He disclosed that in both December 2023 and December 2024, the state considered granting pardon but could not identify eligible inmates due to the gravity of their offences on record.
He urged the service to continue to review the list for possible cases that merit clemency.
He reiterated that correctional centres must reform inmates rather than harden them.
He also said that the state’s investment in new facilities was aimed at reducing overcrowding and promoting rehabilitation.
Otti promised that the government would prioritise strengthening medical services in the facilities as requested by the coordinator.
He, therefore, directed the Commissioner for Health to assess the centres and explore the establishment of functional primary healthcare units.
He also assured the organisation of support for mosquito-treated nets and other welfare needs.
Otti promised to liaise with Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo on how both states could address the lack of operational vehicle for the service, since the command serves both states.
“It is not right that officers cannot attend court because of lack of vehicles or that they appear in full uniform and are forced to board commercial motorcycles,” Otti said.
He thanked the coordinator and her team for the visit and pledged continued partnership with the service.
Earlier, the zonal NCoS boss commended the governor for what she described as “significant interventions that have strengthened security and improved conditions in custodial facilities across the state”.
Amanze said that custodial centres in Abia and Imo currently hold a combined 3,542 inmates, with Abia housing 1,935 and 1,607 by Imo.
According to her, the zone has remained calm because of the improvements made in the facilities.
She listed the fortified perimeter fence at the Aba Correctional Centre, installation of solar lights, and the construction of a new storey building with six cells as some of the interventions that have boosted security and staff confidence.
Amanze further said that congestion remained a major concern across custodial centres in the country.
She said that the new cell block, when completed, would significantly expand the capacity of the Aba facility and reduce overcrowding.
She also highlighted the impact of the government’s support on improved water supply, which she described as critical in preventing unrest and jailbreaks.
Amanze appealed for additional assistance, particularly in the area of education and skill acquisition for inmates.
She said that about 85 per cent of inmates in facilities across Aba, Umuahia and Arochukwu were Abia indigenes, many of whom included young people, whose education or livelihoods were disrupted.
She said that there were inmates currently enrolled in formal education, including primary, secondary, National Open University of Nigeria degree programmes and even postgraduate studies.
She further said that there were other inmates enrolled in non-formal education, learning trades, such as carpentry, welding, tailoring, barbing and hairdressing.
Amanze, therefore, urged the State Government and well-meaning individuals to support the educational and vocational programmes, saying that some officers personally funded examinations and tools for inmates preparing for reintegration.
On recreation, she appealed for assistance with sports equipment and suggested a Governor’s Cup Football Competition for inmates during the Christmas
She thanked the governor for his assistance so far, describing his interventions as life-saving for inmates and staff.
