President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional facilities from urban centers across Nigeria, citing security concerns and urban encroachment.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday, February 21, during the unveiling of new operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of correctional facilities.
Tunji-Ojo explained that rapid urbanization has significantly reduced the legally required buffer zones around these prisons, making them security risks.
He specifically mentioned the Ikoyi and Suleja Correctional Centres, noting that their proximity to residential and commercial structures violates safety regulations.
“The law requires a buffer zone of about 100 meters, but in many cases, it is almost nonexistent.
The Ikoyi facility, for instance, is surrounded by a magistrate court, a church, residential buildings, and commercial structures, making it a security threat,” the minister stated.
Similarly, he highlighted the Suleja Correctional Centre, which is situated just seven meters from the nearest house, as another example of the urgent need for relocation.
Tunji-Ojo further noted that the administration’s broader goal is to transform correctional facilities into centers of education and rehabilitation.
However, he stressed that achieving this vision would be difficult in their current urban locations.