Akwa Ibom Correctional Centres overcrowded…

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Akwa Ibom State Command, has appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for urgent intervention to address overcrowding, ageing infrastructure and declining welfare conditions across custodial centres in the state.

Key Highlights

• The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Akwa Ibom Command, has appealed to the NDDC for urgent support to address overcrowding and poor infrastructure.
• The Uyo Custodial Centre, built to accommodate 613 inmates, currently houses more than 1,000 detainees.
• Correctional facilities in Uyo, Eket and Ikot Abasi are operating beyond their intended capacities.
• The NCS is seeking assistance with solar-powered lighting, potable water, mattresses, bedding and vocational training equipment.
• The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State approved the release of 101 inmates on health and compassionate grounds to ease congestion.

The State Controller of Corrections, Theophilus Okoka, made the appeal during a working visit by the Akwa Ibom State representative on the NDDC Board, Apostle Abasiandikan Nkono, and other commission officials to the command headquarters in Uyo.

Okoka said correctional facilities in Uyo, Eket and Ikot Abasi are operating far beyond their intended capacities, placing enormous pressure on available infrastructure and exposing inmates to poor living conditions and health risks.

According to him, the Uyo Correctional Centre, which was originally constructed to accommodate 613 inmates, currently houses more than 1,000 detainees.

He warned that persistent congestion, coupled with inadequate facilities, has worsened the welfare of inmates, many of whom are battling various health challenges.

The Controller, however, commended the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for facilitating the release of 101 inmates on health and compassionate grounds, describing the exercise as a significant step toward easing congestion within the correctional system.

Okoka urged the NDDC to assist the command with critical infrastructure and welfare projects, including solar-powered lighting, access to potable water, mattresses, bedding materials and vocational training equipment.

He also invited officials of the commission to tour the correctional facilities to gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges confronting inmates and prison authorities.

Speaking on rehabilitation efforts, Okoka said the command operates vocational training centres offering skills in carpentry, barbing, hairdressing and shoemaking. He noted, however, that inadequate tools and equipment have limited the effectiveness of the programmes.

He added that the command has continued to prioritise education, with inmates participating in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while others are pursuing academic programmes through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), including postgraduate and doctoral studies.

According to him, the command is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to ensure inmates who complete vocational training receive recognised certifications.

Responding, Apostle Nkono assured the command of the NDDC’s willingness to collaborate in upgrading correctional facilities and improving inmates’ welfare across Akwa Ibom State.

He said the commission remains committed to supporting security institutions, strengthening human capital development and implementing social intervention programmes throughout the Niger Delta region.

Read also:

Nkono described the Nigeria Correctional Service as a critical institution in the country’s security architecture, stressing that its role in rehabilitation and public safety deserves greater institutional support.

He explained that the proposed partnership would extend beyond physical infrastructure to include programmes that promote the rehabilitation, welfare and reintegration of inmates.

The NDDC board representative encouraged the command to formally submit its requests, assuring that the proposals would be forwarded to the commission’s management for consideration.

In his remarks, the NDDC State Director, Engr. Evong Evong, thanked the correctional authorities for the engagement and reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to build a sustainable partnership aimed at addressing the challenges facing custodial centres in the state.