Interior Ministry Commissions 39 Operational Vehicles For NCoS

In an effort to ensure the timely arrival of inmates in court and the protection of custodial facilities across the federation, the Nigeria Correctional Service has commissioned thirty-nine mini green maria operational vehicles and five bullet resistant guard boots.

At the commissioning in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the vehicles and the guard boots would help the service respond to evolving challenges confronting it.

The Nigeria Correctional Service has over eighty thousand inmates currently in its facilities across the nation, of the number over fifty three thousand are on Awaiting Trial while about twenty six thousand eight hundred have been convicted and are serving various jail terms.

The newly commissioned vehicles would, therefore, in no small measure curb lateness to court by inmates as well as play a vital role in addressing the longstanding issue of Awaiting Trial Persons in custody

The Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended the leadership of the Service stressing that the evidence of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is domthe Nigeria Correctional Service.

Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while calling on the officers to be humane in handling the inmates, noted that he would ensure that the Nigeria Correctional Service becomes the envy of all both national and international.

The Minister also said that the President has graciously approved the relocation of about 29 Correctional centres noting that some custodial facilities are either sharing fence with markets and private residences or facing the government house like the case of Akwa Ibom custodial facility.

He explained the idea behind the establishment of a paramilitary academy stressing that paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes but lifelong careers that young Nigerians should aspire to get.

“I have also insisted that paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes. This is why the President has graciously approved the paramilitary academy just the way we have the police academy Wudil and the Nigeria Defence Academy NDA. The goal is to catch them young. The academy is a degree-awarding institution. “

The Senate Committee Chairman on Interior Comrade Adams Oshiomhole represented by Dr Ayo Ogor who pledged total commitment to advancing the course of the ministry applauded the purchase of the operational vehicles as a way of giving inmates a sense of belonging.

The Acting Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, in an address, said the milestone underscores his commitment towards ensuring the protection of correctional facilities from external incursion and timely attendance to court.

“The acquisition of these vehicles directly responds to the evolving challenges faced by NCoS, particularly in ensuring the timely arrival of inmates in courts. As clearly outlined in the Nigeria Correctional Service Act 2019, one of our core functions is the conveyance of remand persons to and from courts in motorised formations. These new additions to our fleet will significantly bolster our capacity to meet this critical aspect of our mandate, ” CG said.

The Controller General announced that the vehicles would be distributed strategically across the commands based on identified operational needs.
In Abuja.

He said that beyond enhancing inmates’ court attendance, the vehicles play a vital role in addressing the long-standing issue of Awaiting Trial Persons ATP in custody

Nkiru Njemanze, Edited By Grace Namiji