Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, has announced that the Federal Government will cover the fines of more than 4,000 inmates, amounting to over N500 million, to facilitate their release from correctional facilities.

These inmates have been unable to pay their fines, leading to their prolonged detention.

The Minister revealed that committees have been established to investigate the causes of overcrowding in Nigeria’s correctional centers and devise strategies to reduce the inmate population.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, October 19, Dr. Tunji Ojo explained, “As soon as I assumed office, I prioritized the review of our correctional centers’ conditions, particularly in relation to inmates.

We discovered that over 4,000 inmates, as I’ve previously mentioned, remain incarcerated because they are unable to pay fines.”

He added, “We have calculated the total outstanding fines to be approximately N500 million, and we have made significant progress in partnership with the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to secure this funding.”

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Dr. Tunji Ojo expressed confidence in settling these fines within the next three to four weeks, thereby reducing the inmate population from nearly 79,000 to approximately 75,000.

The Minister emphasized the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration, acknowledging that decongesting prisons involves multiple government agencies.

He highlighted the need for an inter-ministerial approach to expedite cases based on the Administration of Criminal Justice System (ACJS).

In addition to reducing prison congestion, the Ministry of Interior is focusing on securing Nigeria’s borders. Dr. Tunji Ojo announced the establishment of an inter-agency committee to address border-related issues.

This committee includes key agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Boundary Commission.

These efforts aim to define and secure Nigeria’s borders effectively.

Once these plans are implemented, the Ministry expects to reduce prison congestion by approximately 60% to 70%.