Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, said the digitalised biometric system is helping to swiftly recapture inmates who escape from correctional centres.
He spoke on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday, disputing claims that there have been up to seven jailbreaks since 2023, and insisting the actual figure is lower.
He also said many of the custodial centres in Nigeria were over 100 years old, with at least 12 of the 246 centres the country currently undergoing rehabilitation.
“The simple truth is that from 2015 to 2023, these incidents were not under this government. I can tell you that jailbreaks are not as bad under this particular administration,” he said.
“Number one: there was a jailbreak in Niger, in Suleja, in the middle of the night when the fence collapsed.
“It was then we realised that much of our records system, our biometric system, was not really up to date.
“We immediately worked on that because the key issue is not just making sure people don’t escape, but ensuring that once they do, you do everything to get them back.
“Aside from that, there was the flood in Maiduguri. That was nobody’s fault. You know what happened to the dam people died, there was a disaster, and the entire correctional centre in Maiduguri was overflooded. That was not the fault of the government or the Nigerian Correctional Service.”
‘WE DON’T MAKE EXCUSES’
Tunji-Ojo said the recent jailbreak in Nasarawa, involving 16 inmates, saw seven recaptured, thanks to the digitalised biometric records and enhanced coordination with security agencies.
“The third incident, if I’m not wrong, is the one that happened about two or three days ago. We are investigating the case where 16 people escaped,” he said.
“As I speak to you, because we have digitalised the biometric system and linked up with all security agencies, those agencies are now better equipped to react.
“Out of the 16 who escaped, as of yesterday, we had arrested seven, with nine remaining. We are still working, and hopefully, within the next couple of days, we will get the remaining nine back.”
The minister said medical facilities in some prisons have improved under President Bola Tinubu, with the employment of 50 doctors, 100 nurses, and the deployment of NYSC doctors.
Tunji-Ojo explained that correctional centre management is now on the concurrent legislative list, allowing federal and state governments to operate them.
He added that about 72 percent of inmates are state offenders, with 67 percent awaiting trial, and that the federal government currently bears most of their upkeep.
“We do not make excuses. The president always says we were elected to produce results, not to shift blame,” the minister said.
“As a government, we will continue to interface with state governors to develop a shared strategy to solve the correctional system’s problems.
“I want to put it on record that this administration has done a lot in the last two years in terms of providing resources and making sure our facilities and systems are better secured.”
