The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed that no fewer than 4,000 inmates have been freed so far under the Federal Government Amnesty Programme to decongest custodian centres in the country.
Mr Aregbesola made the disclosure during the pulling-out-parade organised in honour of the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Ja’afaru Ahmed
The minister also described as heart-warming that there had been no COVID-19 infection in any of the country’s custodian centres.
The Minister praised the out-going CGC for his hard work and commitment to service, saying the CGC “epitomised service, discipline and responsibility.”
Giving details of Mr Jaafaru’s achievements, the Minister said: “currently, 23 inmates are undergoing Post Graduate Programmes comprising of one PhD; 16 Master’s Degree; and six Post Graduate Diploma Programmes.
“A total of 465 inmates are studying various Degree Programmes such as Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution; Criminology and Security Studies, Political Science, Law, etc.
“In addition, 1,404 wrote SSCE and 634 passed with five credits, including English and Mathematics, while 4,757 enrolled for Adult Education programme and 1,162 graduated.
“Vocational education enrolment also soared as 280 inmates made up of 267 males and 13 females acquired Trade Test Grades III, II and I in sundry vocations like woodwork, welding, shoe-making, barbing, dress-making, etc.
“Under him, the service has lived up to its billing as correctional institution. All the beneficiaries of these programmes in education and vocational skills acquisition will no doubt turn out as better citizens.”
