GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA CALLS FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN FEDERAL & STATE GOVERNMENTS OVER THE WELFARE OF PRISON INMATES.
- GIVES REASONS FOR BUILDING NEW ULTRA MODERN PRISON HEADQUARTERS IN OWERRI
Governor Rochas Okorocha has called for a well-tailored Collaboration between federal and State governments over the welfare of Prison inmates and the Prison Conditions since the essence of sending people to prison is to make them better Citizens.
Governor Okorocha spoke when the Controller-General of Prisons Ja’afaru Ahmed paid him courtesy call with Senior Personnel of the Prisons Service at the Government House Owerri, weekend, commending President Muhammadu Buhari for improving the Nigerian Prisons under his administration.
The governor hinted that the visit of the Controller-General to the State was the beginning of the process of the handover of the new Ultra-Modern Nigeria Prisons Headquarters built by his administration, Stating that he decided to build the new prison headquarters after seeing the pictures of most Nigerian Prisons.
He said, “I discovered that the State of Imo State Prisons was the worst and I had to plead passionately with the Controller-General not to display it further to the public because of the very poor images of the prisons. There were all sorts of shanties, debris and every manner of filt which is an eye-saw to a modern society not even good for a piggery. I discovered that they were having about 70 to 100 inmates in one small room without facilities at all”.
He added “This is what has prompted the speedy construction of new Prison Headquarters with accommodation for over 3,000 inmates with offices, as a quick response and funded by the Imo State government. I hope that when this is replicated all over the country, the presentation of those pictures will no longer be relevant to all of us”.
According to him “The government also did this to relocate the Prisons from closeness to the Government House and also to avoid the risk of jail break. Before, there were about 500 inmates but now they are over 2000 inmates. So, what we have done in Imo State is a complementary effort to support the efforts of the Federal Government. Mr. President has promised to come to commission this project. The new site of the Prison Headquarters makes for easy movement since it’s close to the new Police Headquarters and the Courts”.
The governor further Stated “The government of Imo State has also built several Federal Government projects like the Imo International Cargo Airport, Hospitals to the Police, Airforce, Navy and the Armed Forces all in a bid to support the Federal Government’s good gestures. There is also the MOPOL Command Headquarter here in Imo”.
In his speech earlier, the Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed said “We have been conducted round to see the good and concept that the governor has put together. The environment is very airy and the places roomy enough, more than what we used to have. This surely will make for a better treatment of inmates. I thank His Excellency and Imo people for answering this clarion call at the National Executive Council meeting and accepting the challenge”.
He remarked “I think the Federal and State governments should work in collaboration to see that the welfare of prisoners take top priority. The Federal government has commenced a 36.5 hectres of modern prisons complex that will accommodate any number of inmates with Abuja and Kano as models which other States will follow up with. But there is no decision yet on the South-East”.
According to him “The Prisons pharmacy in Owerri is still stocked and we have started exposing prisoners to information and workshops as a way of reform. Today, we have prisoners with certificates of GL 1, GL 2 & GL 3. Infact, in Abeokuta Prisons, 50 inmates have graduated while 465 are doing degree programmes with National Open University (NOUN). One is doing his PhD and this brought the attention of UNESCO to Nigeria to witness the combination of skill acquisition with Education in Nigeria”.
Sam Onwuemeodo
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
PICTURE CAPTIONS
Governor Rochas Okorocha welcoming the Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed when he paid courtesy call on the governor weekend at the Government House Owerri.
Governor Rochas Okorocha with the Controller-General of Prisons Ja’afaru Ahmed (1st left), Charles Ahaotu (2nd left), Dr. Joseph Olurunmole (3rd left), CVU Chibabua (4th left), Chris Okoye (1st right), Attorney General of the State, Mr. Miletus Nlemedim, when the Controller-General paid courtesy call on the governor at the Government House weekend.
Governor Rochas Okorocha addressing a cross-section of inmates at the Owerri Prisons when he visited the place with the Controller-General of Prisons Ja’afaru Ahmed (1st right) weekend.
