Tunji-Ojo expresses concern over 26,000 children in custodial facilities

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has lamented the incarceration of over 26, 000 children in the nation’s custodial centres, saying the figure represents 30 percent of the total number of inmates in the Correctional facilities.

Tunji-Ojo said the criminal justice system in Nigeria needs urgent reforms to prevent vulnerable groups from going through difficult and unwarranted experiences.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to address pressing issues within the nation’s correctional system, with a specific focus on the alarming number of children in correctional centres.

The Minister made the remarks at a high level Inter-agency stakeholders meeting in Abuja to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in correctional facilities.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address these legal and institutional gaps.

The Minister in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Ozoya Imohimi outlined key reforms to transform correctional centres into centres for reformation and rehabilitation.

He said the establishment of a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy would ensure that Correctional personnel and officers are trained in empathy and correctional principles.

He added that emphasis would also be placed on non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders to reduce pre-trial detentions.

The Minister highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to tackle juvenile detention and called for active participation from state governments, as correctional services require a federation-wide approach.

“The future is now. We are committed to building a system that generations yet to come will be proud to call their own. Correctional services are not about condemnation but correction, and this is the path we must follow,” the Minister stated.

Tunji-Ojo further explained that, the 2024 report on children and young adults deprived of liberty presents a sobering reality, an alarming 26,000 children have been held annually in Correctional facilities over the past five years.

He said this figure represents over 30 per cent of the total inmate population, raising serious concerns about violations of child protection laws.

He highlighted the urgency of the issue, declaring that the government would investigate the breaches and hold institutions accountable.

“The law is clear, children should not be in adult correctional centres. We will not tolerate violations of this law. There will be consequences for agencies that fail to uphold the law,” he asserted.

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