BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
THE Federal Government has freed a total of 4,000 inmates, so far, under its Amnesty Programme, aimed at decongesting custodial centres in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this, on Thursday, added that it was heartwarming that no case of COVID-19 infection had been recorded in any of Nigeria’s Correctional centres.
He said this at the pulling out parade organised in honour of the Controller General of Corrections, Ja’afaru Ahmed.
According to him, the high bar of Service set by the outgoing CGC necessitated the various reforms and initiatives that rapidly transformed the service.
Aregbesola commended Ahmed for his hard work and commitment to service, noting that he epitomised service, discipline and responsibility.
According to him, the CGC will be remembered for the construction of 3,000-capacity ultra-modern Custodial Centre in Janguza, Kano State (North-West Zone), where 10 component projects have been fully completed, while more than 36 others are at various stages of completion across the country.
The Minister said the construction of 3,000-capacity ultra-modern Custodial Centre in Karshi, FCT (North-Central Zone) and at Bori, River State (South-South Zone), had also commenced.
Listing the outgoing CGC’s achievements, he said, “currently, 23 inmates are undergoing Post Graduate Programmes comprising of one PhD; 16 Master’s Degree; and six Post Graduate Diploma Programmes.
“A total of 465 inmates are studying various Degree Programmes such as Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution; Criminology and Security Studies, Political Science, Law, etc.
“In addition, 1,404 wrote SSCE and 634 passed with five credits, including English and Mathematics, while 4,757 enrolled for Adult Education programme and 1,162 graduated.
“Vocational education enrolment also soared as 280 inmates, made up of 267 males and 13 females, acquired Trade Test Grades III, II and I in sundry vocations like woodwork, welding, shoe-making, barbing, dress-making, etc.”
“Under him, the service has lived up to its billing as correctional institution. All the beneficiaries of these programmes in education and vocational skills acquisition will no doubt turn out as better citizens,” he said.
