By Francis Wilfred
The Minister of Interior has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing pressing issues within the nation’s correctional system, with a specific focus on the alarming number of children in correctional centres and the broader goal of reforming Nigeria’s justice system.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Ozoya Imohimi in a press statement said that the commitment was made at a high level Inter-agency meeting held in Abuja to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in correctional facilities.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in governance, stating that “Reality, as I always say, is not about losing ourselves in the past but focusing on the present to shape the future. The future is now, and we are determined to operate with a ‘business unusual’ mindset to drive real change.”
He also expressed concern over the presence of children in correctional centres, highlighting it as a violation of laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions. He acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address these legal and institutional gaps.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo, outlined key reforms to transform correctional centres into centres for reformation and rehabilitation.
The Minister announced the establishment of a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy to train officers in empathy and correctional principles and noted that emphasis will also be placed on non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders to reduce pre-trial detentions.
He noted the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to tackle juvenile detention and called for active participation from state governments, as correctional services require a federation-wide approach and reiterated the administration’s focus on delivering results under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that excuses would not be acceptable, urging all stakeholders to focus on action and measurable outcomes.
“The future is now. We are committed to building a system that generations yet to come will be proud to call their own. Correctional services are not about condemnation but correction, and this is the path we must follow,” the Minister stated.
Dr. 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, and this figure represents over 30% of the total inmate population, raising serious concerns about violations of child protection laws.
The Minister further highlighted the urgency of the issue, declaring that the government will investigate the breaches and hold institutions accountable.
“The law is clear, children should not be in adult correctional centres. We will not tolerate violations of this law. There will be consequences for agencies that fail to uphold the law,” he asserted.
He underscored the unprecedented inter-ministerial collaboration under President Tinubu’s administration, ensuring that Ministries no longer function in isolation. He praised the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Women Affairs, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and other key officials for their joint commitment to comprehensive justice reform.
He said that, the meeting marks a decisive step toward eradicating the unlawful detention of children by enforcing the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003, scaling non-custodial measures and rehabilitation programs to ensure that children in conflict with the law are reintegrated into society
“Mobilizing political will and resources to drive systemic reforms and end arbitrary child detention is the best thing for our society.
“It takes a whole village to raise a child. Our nation cannot afford to fail its children. This administration will ensure that by 2027, we talk about achievements, not promises,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo affirmed.
“With strong government backing and unwavering political resolve, Nigeria is poised to build a justice system that upholds the rights of every child”.
Calling on all stakeholders, government agencies, development partners, and civil society to join hands in shaping a future where no Nigerian child is left behind.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani said that, the 2024 report on children and young adults deprived of liberty paints a sobering reality. 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
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.
Dr. Ajani emphasised that the meeting underscored that ending child detention is not just a moral obligation but a strategic investment in sustainable development, justice, and poverty reduction.
Present at the high level meeting were representatives of the Ministers of Justice; Women Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs; UNICEF and other development partners to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in correctional facilities.
