President Bola Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional centers from urban areas nationwide.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the decision on Friday, February 21, during the unveiling of operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Tunji-Ojo previously stated in July that urbanization had significantly reduced the required setbacks around these facilities, citing the Suleja and Ikoyi Correctional Centers as examples. He emphasized that the Ikoyi facility, in particular, lacks a proper “buffer zone” as mandated by the constitution, making it a potential security risk.
“Of course, you can see the magistrate court here, a church there, residential buildings, and a lot of commercial structures around.
“The government is looking into how we can perhaps relocate some of these correctional centres, with Ikoyi being very key.
“Do not forget that the law says you need a buffer zone of about 100 meters. As you can see, the buffer zone here is almost zero. This is a law-abiding government, and we will explore all avenues to ensure we do what is legally right,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.
The minister also pointed to the Suleja Correctional Centre as another example, noting that it is only seven meters away from the nearest residential building.
He emphasized that the administration aims to transform correctional centers into institutions of education and rehabilitation. However, he acknowledged that achieving this goal would be challenging in their current locations.
