The federal government has commenced the release of inmates from correctional facilities across the country.

In October, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, had said the federal government would pay N500 million in fines to ensure the release of 4,000 inmates in correctional facilities.

Speaking on Saturday during the flag-off of the programme at the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo said the initiative is targeted at addressing the problem of overcrowded custodial centres.

The minister added that the funds were raised by individuals, groups and corporate bodies to facilitate the release of the inmates.

He said all inmates in custodial centres who have fines or compensations to pay, not exceeding N1million, will benefit from the gesture.

“It’s with great pleasure that I stand with you today to flag off the release of 4,068 inmates sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with the option of fine and compensation in custodial status nationwide,” Tunji-Ojo said.

“This is in our bid to decongest custodial centres and make them humane for proper reformation and rehabilitation of offenders.

“As at yesterday, there were about 80,804 inmates in 253 custodial facilities nationwide which total installed capacity for the 253 Custodial Centres adds up to less than 50,000.

“This shows that our custodial facilities are over-crowded, thus necessitating this initiative we are witnessing today, which is targeted towards addressing the overcrowding conundrum bedeviling our custodial centres and their reformatory function.

“Most of the inmates are indigents who cannot afford to pay their fine languishing in custody.”

He said the released inmates have been equipped with the required training aimed at impacting their lives and making them self-reliant when they are integrated back to society.

“Suffice it to mention at this point that we are not just releasing them to their fates; we have given them requisite training aimed at impacting their lives functionally,” he added.

“As well as equipping them with knowledge for their self-reliance upon discharge and reintegration back to the society.

“The training also covers their civic duties and responsibilities as citizens, and strategies of refraining from re-offending.”

Tunji-Ojo said the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to transforming custodial facilities to ensure compliance with international human rights standards and good correctional practices.

The minister said every Nigerian has a stake in ensuring that offenders are properly reformed, rehabilitated and reintegrated back to their various communities.

“By so doing, we will be promoting public safety and by extension, national security. It behoves on all of us therefore, to ensure that we support offenders’ reformatory process,” he said.

By Ebunoluwa Olafusi

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