In an effort to enhance the security of Nigeria’s custodial centers and improve inmate welfare, the Federal Government has approved the relocation of 29 out of the country’s 250 custodial facilities.
Gatekeepers News reports that this announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the commissioning of 39 mini green maria designed for transporting inmates to and from court, as well as five bullet-resistant guard booths at the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) headquarters in Abuja.
The relocation decision addresses concerns regarding some custodial centers located near state government buildings, within government reserved areas, or in close proximity to markets and residential areas. The Minister emphasized the importance of this initiative for enhancing the operational environment of correctional services.
Additionally, the acquisition of the new transport vehicles aims to effectively respond to the challenges faced by the Correctional Service, particularly the need for timely inmate appearances in court.
In a separate event focused on Advance Passenger Information, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service discussed collaborative efforts with the United Nations Organization on Counter Terrorism that took place in Bangkok, Thailand, last year. As part of ongoing measures to combat terrorism, the Minister announced plans to cancel the Federal Government’s Visa-on-Arrival policy.
Furthermore, a week-long capacity-building training on Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) data took place at the Nigeria Immigration Service headquarters in Abuja. This training is part of a broader strategy to improve national security and ensure comprehensive documentation of all visitors to the country.
