Reforms

By Philomina Attah

The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
(CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, has decried the deplorable state of correctional facilities in the country.

Speaking at CBCN’s first plenary in 2025, in Abuja, Ugorji called for urgent reforms to address overcrowding, inhumane treatment of inmates, and delays in the judicial process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference has as its theme: “Jubilee of Hope: A Light for a New Nigeria”.

He commended the law that changed the prisons from punitive system, to one focused on rehabilitation and reintegration.

According to him, the law provides for medical, psychological, spiritual, and vocational training programmes, to aid inmates’ reintegration into society.

He said that the implementation of the law had been largely ineffective, describing Nigeria’s correctional centres as outdated, ill-maintained, overcrowded, and unhygienic.

The Archbishop said that due to their unsanitary conditions, the correctional centres were also known for their offensive odours, which encouraged the spread of disease.

He said that inmates of the centres were thrown into overcrowded, squalid and unhealthy cells with about 20 people, crammed into a cell meant for five.

“Consequently, they have to sleep at night in shifts because of lack of space. Essential amenities such as food, potable water and medical care seem to be luxuries that are not always available in the centres.

“Depending on the correctional centre, the number of inmates awaiting trial ranges from 60 to 90 per cent.

“Thus, suspects may stay in the facility many years longer than they would have, if they were promptly sentenced for their alleged offences,” the cleric said.

Ugorji further noted that many of the inmates are often subjected to inhumane and degrading physical and psychological abuse.

He said that this exposed them to severe emotional disturbance, including anxiety and depression.

“To say the least, their mistreatment is an affront on human dignity and right.

“To address these challenges, the government too should uphold the fundamental rights of inmates and treat them with dignity,” Ugorji said.

He called for the fast-tracking of the judicial process to prevent prolonged detention without trial, and decongest correctional centres, by granting pardon to well-behaved minor offenders.

The cleric called for the upgrading of existing facilities and constructing of new ones to ease overcrowding.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Mr Steve Adehi, called on the Church to play its role in realising a new Nigeria.

He also said that while Nigeria held the title of the happiest people globally, yet Nigerians led the misery index rating. (NAN)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Mark Longyen