Nigeria’s Century-Old Prisons Are a National Shame—Reform Must Be Urgent, Not Incremental
-EDITORIAL-
When
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, his revelations were
both sobering and infuriating. That many of Nigeria’s 246 correctional centres
are over a century old is not just a historical footnote, it’s a national
disgrace. These facilities, relics of colonial architecture and punitive
philosophy, continue to house thousands of Nigerians in conditions that defy
modern standards of dignity, safety, and rehabilitation.
This is not merely a matter of crumbling walls and outdated plumbing. It is a reflection of how far behind our justice system has fallen, and how urgently it needs to evolve.
Infrastructure: A Crumbling Legacy
The fact
that prisons like Suleja (established in 1914) and Ikoyi (1956) are still
operational is alarming. These facilities were never designed to uphold human
rights or foster rehabilitation. They were built to punish, isolate, and dehumanize.
Minister
Tunji-Ojo’s admission that only 12 centres are currently undergoing renovation
is a start, but it’s a drop in the ocean. Each centre contains multiple
structures, and the scale of decay is vast. Piecemeal upgrades will not
suffice. Nigeria needs a bold, comprehensive plan to rebuild, not just
refurbish, its correctional system.
Healthcare: A System That Forgot
Humanity
Until
recently, some prisons operated without a single medical doctor. This is not
just neglect, it’s institutional cruelty. The approval of 50 doctors and 100
nurses, along with NYSC deployments, is a welcome development. But let’s be
clear: these are emergency measures, not long-term solutions.
Inmates
are still citizens. Their access to healthcare should not depend on political
goodwill or media pressure. A correctional system that cannot guarantee basic
medical care is not fit for purpose.
Security: Behind the Walls, Beyond
the Headlines
The
minister’s guarded comments about security improvements suggest ongoing vulnerabilities.
Nigeria has witnessed multiple jailbreaks in recent years, each one a symptom
of deeper systemic failure. Intelligence work and inter-agency collaboration
are vital, but without transparency and accountability, these efforts risk
becoming reactive rather than preventive.
A Global Perspective: Where Nigeria
Falls Short
Across
the world, prison reform has evolved from punishment to rehabilitation.
Norway’s humane facilities, Germany’s normalization model, and even faith-based
reentry programs in parts of the U.S. offer blueprints for change. Nigeria, by
contrast, remains tethered to outdated philosophies and underfunded
institutions.
The Real Cost of Inaction
Let’s be
honest: the consequences of neglecting prison reform are not confined to
inmates. Overcrowded, unsanitary, and insecure prisons breed violence, disease,
and despair. They undermine public safety, fuel recidivism, and erode trust in
the justice system.
Moreover,
they reflect poorly on Nigeria’s global image. A country that cannot guarantee
humane treatment for its incarcerated population cannot credibly advocate for
human rights abroad.
What Must Be Done—Now
Reform
cannot wait for another administration or another budget cycle. It must begin
now, with urgency and ambition. The government should:
- Launch a nationwide prison
reconstruction initiative.
- Invest in vocational
training and education for inmates.
- Expand mental health and
addiction services.
- Promote non-custodial
sentencing for minor offenses.
- Partner with civil society
for reentry support and oversight.
Nigeria’s
prisons are not just old, they are obsolete. They represent a philosophy of
justice that belongs in the past. If we are serious about building a fair,
secure, and humane society, then prison reform must be more than a talking
point. It must be a national priority.
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