Minor offenses contribute to prison congestion, says Nigeria's Minister of Interior
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that 30 to 50 percent of offenses committed by inmates in African correctional centers do not warrant incarceration. Speaking at a regional conference in Abuja, he urged correctional authorities to assess overcrowding, noting that 93 percent of Nigerian inmates are state offenders, many held for minor infractions. Tunji-Ojo revealed that a review of inmates held for minor fines led to the decongestion of correctional centers by five percent. He also highlighted a significant decline in recidivism in Nigeria, from 13,000 cases in 2023 to 1,000 last year, attributing this to expanded education and vocational training for inmates. The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, emphasized Nigeria's modernization efforts through the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and the importance of prisoner classification for rehabilitation and resource deployment. He described the conference as an opportunity for collective learning and sharing solutions among African correctional systems.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is intentionally working towards the reconstruction of the South-East through significant infrastructure projects. Soludo described the President's recent approval for two major federal roads as a historic achievement for the region. On his X handle, Soludo expressed excitement over the Federal Government's approval for the design and procurement of the Otuocha鈥揂nam鈥揂baji Road, which links Anambra to Kogi State, and the Oba鈥揘newi鈥揢ga鈥揑hube Road, connecting Anambra and Imo to the Enugu鈥揚ort Harcourt Expressway. The governor noted that these projects highlight Tinubu's dedication to rebuilding the South-East and addressing long-standing infrastructural deficits. Soludo mentioned that he met with President Tinubu on July 1, after which the Minister of Works, David Umahi, requested details of the discussed road projects. Soludo submitted the details on July 3 and received confirmation on Tuesday, July 15, that the President had approved both projects for design and procurement. He described the roads as transformative, expecting them to significantly improve connectivity across the South-East, South-South, and North-Central regions. Soludo concluded by thanking the President, stating that history would be kind to him.
The Police Service Commission has released the names of 50,000 successful applicants for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force. The commission stated that the exercise was comprehensive, inclusive, equitable, and transparent, conducted in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Character Commission, and the Ministry of Police Affairs. Candidates who took the recent written examination can check their recruitment status on the official portal, which opened on Thursday. Successful candidates will also receive notifications via email and SMS. Those confirmed successful are required to report to designated police training institutions for medical examination and documentation on dates and times to be communicated. Failure to report within the stipulated time will be considered a decline of the offer. Additionally, candidates who fail the medical examination conducted by the police medical team upon resuming training will be declared unfit and asked to leave. Recruits must bring their training call-up slip, NIN slip, BVN slip, original and photocopies of certificates, and other required documents. This recruitment is part of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to increase police manpower and enhance internal security nationwide.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has stated that there will be no easy opponents at the 2026 Women鈥檚 Africa Cup of Nations, emphasizing that the era of so-called minnows in African women鈥檚 football is over. As Nigeria prepares for the tournament in Morocco, Nnadozie believes every team can cause an upset and has urged her teammates to approach each game with maximum respect. She noted that smaller teams will be keen to prove themselves, indicating that many surprises are expected. The Super Falcons are aiming to win the Cup and secure a World Cup ticket. Preparations for the continental event began with players arriving at the team鈥檚 training camp in Casablanca, ahead of a week-long program in Mohammedia. Early arrivals included Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, and Nnadozie. The training camp will allow head coach Justine Madugu to refine tactics and ensure players reach peak fitness before moving to Rabat for the tournament. Nigeria will seek to defend their continental title, aiming for their 11th WAFCON crown and a qualification spot for the 2027 FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup in Brazil. The competition is scheduled from July 26 to August 16. More players from Madugu鈥檚 25-player squad are expected to join the camp soon. Drawn in Group C, the Super Falcons will begin their title defense against Malawi on July 28, followed by matches against Zambia on August 1 and Egypt on August 5.