The Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has called for urgent reforms in the nation’s justice system in order to decongest the prisons as total number of inmates currently in various prisons in Nigeria stood at 71, 642 of which 49, 001 representing 68 per cent were awaiting trial persons and 22, 64, representing 31 per cent were already convicted.

The National Prisons Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Enobore made the call in Enugu during a joint media sensitization programme in conjunction with the ‘Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Enobore said: “It is important to note that as at Monday, February 26, 2018, inmate population stands at 71, 642 and of this number, 49,001 representing 68.4 per cent are awaiting trial persons (ATP), while 22, 641 representing 31.6 per cent are convicted inmates. Of the total number of convicts, 2,322 inmates are on death row.

“You must agree that consideration for the vulnerable groups in prison is of prime importance, given the scale of specialized care and attention required by pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, people with terminal illnesses, the mentally ill, juvenile offenders and more.

“The Nigeria Prisons service is working with PRAWA as technical partner to include the unique and specific needs of these groups in the annual prison budget.” Meanwhile, PRAWA Executive Director, Dr Uju Agomuo urged media practitioners in the South- East zone of the country to key into the project of advocating reforms in Nigerian prisons by volunteering on spot assessment of the state of prisons across the South-East zone and thereafter, reflecting their findings in their various reports and articles. She explained that the situation had warranted that they seek the support of the media and the general public in the onerous task of facilitating reforms in the Nigeria’s prison sector.

Conveyed by: New Telegraph