The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has expressed concern over 26,000 children incarcerated in Nigeria’s custodial facilities, calling it alarming.
Speaking at a high-level inter-agency stakeholder meeting in Abuja, he revealed children constitute 30 percent of the total inmate population.
A statement by the Director of Press at the Ministry of Interior, Ozoya Imohimi, quoted the minister highlighting urgent concerns.
“Approximately 26,000 children are held in correctional facilities annually, making up over 30 percent of the total inmate population.”
He stressed that detaining minors in correctional centres violates laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions for proper rehabilitation.
“This statistic raises concerns about child protection laws, violating mandates to place minors in borstals for proper reformation.”
Government Response and Planned Reforms
Tunji-Ojo assured that violations of these laws would be investigated, warning that non-compliant institutions would face strict consequences.
He announced plans to establish a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy focused on training correctional officers in rehabilitation principles and empathy.
The minister emphasized the importance of non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders, ensuring a fairer system for young detainees.
Additionally, he called for greater collaboration among ministries, urging state governments to participate in addressing rising juvenile incarceration.
