Speaking at an event celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abuja, Ogah criticized the governors for neglecting their responsibilities after correctional facilities were placed on the concurrent list in the constitution.
Ogah emphasized the urgency for governors to fulfill their constitutional duties in supporting correctional services, stating that the National Assembly is prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance. Lawyers have already been consulted to sue governors who fail to build and maintain correctional facilities as required by the constitution.
“The governors must act in accordance with the constitution to build and maintain correctional facilities,” Ogah said.
Ogah, representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, highlighted the dire state of many correctional facilities, noting severe understaffing and overcrowding. He pointed out that facilities designed for 500 inmates are currently housing over 2,000, with insufficient staff to manage them.
He also called for an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates from N750 to N2,500, as proposed by the National Assembly, to ensure better living conditions for inmates.
Ogah advocated for greater private sector involvement in agricultural projects within correctional facilities, which he believes would provide inmates with valuable skills and reduce recidivism. “We have thousands of hectares of land that can be utilized for mechanized farming, benefiting both inmates and the broader economy,” he said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in a message delivered by Dr. Kim Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor at the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of combating poverty and inequality, echoing the theme of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day.
Muchaneta Mundopa, Head of the Justice, Integrity and Health Unit at UNODC, underscored the significance of treating prisoners humanely and promoting restorative justice practices, which align with the global theme of ending poverty and inequality.
Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa reiterated Mandela’s belief in restorative justice and the importance of rehabilitation, education, and vocational training in creating a fairer and more compassionate prison system.
