The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro
on Tuesday said the ministry was
planning to introduce the e-prison
system in order to put an end to
incessant prisons breaks.
The Minister said this when a
delegation of the Human Rights
Commission paid a courtesy visit
on him at the ministry in Abuja.
Moro said the ministry was
committed to making Nigerian
prisons among the best in the
world through the rehabilitation
and construction of new prisons.
“We are committed to make the
prisons one of the best from
structure to infrastructure. The
ministry inherited a prisons system
that was nearly comatose hence it
has taken steps to rehabilitate
prisons .
“Presently new structures are
under construction in various
states including Yobe, Ibadan,
Kwara, Nnewi among others and
before the end of this
administration this projects will be
commissioned” Moro said.
He said that President Goodluck
Jonathan had approved the
construction of 200 bed spaces each
in Nasarawa and Suleja prisons to
improve the living condition of
prisoners.
He said that in order to ensure that
humane conditions were provided
to prisoners the ministry was
liasing with the office of the
Attorney General of the Federation
and various state governments.
He said that this was to ensure
quick dispensation of justice for
persons awaiting trial.
Moro said that the ministry was
currently working with the
Nigerian Army and the Nigeria
Police to ensure safety of prisoners
and prevent future attacks.
He assured the commission of the
ministry’s effort to ensure safety of
Nigerians before, during and after
the election.
“Officers and men of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) have been deployed to
various parts of the country.
“They have been adequately
trained and the federal government
is doing this in order to ensure
safety of lives and properties of all
Nigerians” the minister said.
Earlier, Ben Angwe, the Executive
Secretary, Human Right
Commission expressed displeasure
with some of the problems in the
Nigerian prisons, one of which is
congestion.
He said that the commission was,
therefore, conducting prisons audit
with the support of the National
Assembly to support the ministry to
solve some of the problems.
While pledging the support of the
commission in ensuring that the
ministry achieved its set goals, the
secretary called on the minister to
ensure that all hands are on deck
in ensuring the protection of the
rights of inmate especially those
still awaiting trial.