The minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has raised concerns over the detention of over 26000 minors in the correctional centers for the last 5 years stating that this number makes up for around 30% of the total inmates in correctional centers.
According to the minister, the criminal justice system in the country is in dire need of a reform to prevent susceptible groups like minors (children) from going through harsh and unnecessary experiences.
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In a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Director of Press on Wednesday, Ozoya Imohimi, it was stated that the minister voiced these concerns at the high -level interior agency stakeholders meeting in Abuja to tackle the pressing issue of minors deprived of their freedom in correctional facilities.
He said “The Minister of Interior expressed concern over the presence of children in correctional centres, highlighting it as a violation of laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions.
“Tunji-Ojo further explained that the 2024 report on children and young adults deprived of liberty presents a sobering reality, an alarming 26,000 children have been held annually in correctional facilities over the past five years.
“He said this figure represents over 30% of the total inmate population, raising serious concerns about violations of child protection laws.
“He acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address these legal and institutional gaps.
“The presence of children in custodial centres violates laws mandating their placement in borstal institutions so that they can undergo reformation in line with their age,” the statement quoted Tunji-Ojo.
The minister stressed that necessary investigations would be carried out and non compliant institutions will face the implications of their actions, adding that the Government was devoted to reframing the country’s correctional system , with priority given to the number of minors in correctional facilities.
He further stated that plans to establish a Nigerian para military academy to train correctional officers in rehabilitation and empathy were in progress .
He emphasized the need for non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders, stressing inter-ministerial collaboration and state government involvement in addressing juvenile detention.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, noted that the 2024 report on minors and young adults deprived of liberty presents a disturbing picture.
She said, “Between 2018 and 2022, an average of 26,000 children and young adults were held in custodial centres annually. These statistics are not just numbers, they represent vulnerable lives in urgent need of intervention.
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“She noted the need to promote non-custodial measures and diversion programmes as viable alternatives to detention, sharing best practices and strengthening legal frameworks to ensure detention is a measure of last resort, in line with Article 37(b) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act of 2003.
She further emphasized that the meeting highlighted that putting an end to child detention is more than just a moral responsibility but it was also a strategic investment in sustainable development, justice and poverty reduction.
Also present at the high level meeting were representative of the minister of Justice, women affairs and humanitarian affairs, UNICEF among other partners and stakeholders to deliberate the issue of minors deprived their freedom in correctional facilities.
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