MORE FEDERAL PRISONS REQUIRED IN EKITI STATE. By Kester Olaifa
It would, no doubt, look rather odd to my fellow Ekiti citizens that I am making this kind of advocacy on this social media platform out of the several pressing needs of our dear State.
My request in this particular regard is inspired by what I observe to be a clear lack of equity and fairness in the distribution of this important federal facility as it pertains to Ekiti State in particular.
The only Federal Prison at Ado-Ekiti was established nearly a century ago by the British colonial administration.
It was moved recently from the old site to a new place along Afao Road within Ado metropolis.
Even with the new expansion of the Ado Prison, the new facility remains grossly inadequate for the needs of both the inmates and the workers attached thereto.
The Ado facility, as at the moment constituted, is exceedingly congested with its attendant environmental challenges. This does not augur well for the facility itself and the immediate neighborhood.
Besides, we also observe to our chagrin that whereas several other states of the federation have a minimum of three (3) prison formations, sadly however, it is a different case for both Ekiti and Bayelsa States with only one prison formation each. Throughout the country, Kaduna State is believed to have the largest number of prison facilities, about seven (7) to be precise.
In order to be able to cater more properly for the increasing needs of prison inmates in the country as well as to ensure equity and fairness, we hasten to suggest that the Federal Government should urgently consider the approval of, at least, one additional prison facility for each of Ekiti and Bayelsa States.
