Why over 4,000 Nigerians are still in custodial centers – Minister

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has revealed that over 4,000 inmates are held in custodial centres across the country over inability to pay fines.

He said this situation has persisted over the inmates’ inability to pay their various fines as pronounced by the judges and magistrates.

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The minister stated this on Saturday when the Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi visited him at his office in Abuja, according to a statement by his adviser, Alao Babatunde.

“Over 70 percent of the 79,000 inmates are awaiting trial.

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“We have over 4000 inmates in the facilities for their inability to pay various fines.

“We believe we can reduce the number of inmates in our correctional facilities by about forty percent if we explore non-custodial alternatives as provided for in the Correctional Service Act,” he said.

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He called on the EU to support Nigeria in making available technology to buffer and enhance border management architecture within the country.

“If we are able to solve crime and migration problems in Nigeria, Africa will be better for it,” he said