The Federal Government announced plans yesterday to potentially relocate Ikoyi Prison and several other urban prisons to different areas. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed this information on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Thursday. Constructed in 1955, Ikoyi Prison is situated in the upscale Ikoyi district on Lagos Island. The minister mentioned that urbanization has significantly reduced the space that should exist around correctional centers in the country.
Tunji-Ojo said, “Under this administration, we’ve not had any jail attack; what we’ve had was force majeure which was Suleja because that particular correctional center was built in 1914. It’s about 110 years old.
“President Tinubu was not President at 110 years old. He inherited 256 correctional centers that needed attention. There is no way he would have completely overhauled it in one year.
“I must talk about urbanization. Look at Suleja for example, the Suleja correctional center that came down was only 7 meters away from the next house. Instead of what the law says which is a buffer space of 100 meters. So, urbanization has eaten deep.
“Look at Ikoyi Correctional Centre sharing a fence with (another house). What’s (a) correctional center doing in Ikoyi? This administration is looking at being able to initiate the process of possibly relocating some of these correctional centers.”
He announced that the government will soon begin an “inmate audit” across all 256 correctional centers in the country, aiming to release those who should not be there. The minister noted that President Bola Tinubu inherited numerous outdated correctional facilities needing attention, but the government has already initiated renovation and rebuilding efforts.
“We’ve renovated over 10 correctional centers under this administration. The government has achieved remarkable improvements at the Kuje correctional center,” he said.
