President Bola Tinubu has approved the relocation of 29 correctional centers, also known as prisons, from urban areas across Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this decision on Friday, February 21, during the unveiling of new operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service.
In July, Tunji-Ojo had explained that the federal government’s plan to relocate the prisons was driven by the expansion of urbanization, which has encroached on the land meant for the facilities. He pointed to the Suleja and Ikoyi Correctional Centers as examples of this issue.
Tunji-Ojo elaborated on the concerns surrounding the Ikoyi facility, stating that its current location no longer provides the required “buffer zone” as mandated by the constitution, which he described as a “security threat.”
He noted the proximity of the facility to a magistrate court, residential buildings, and commercial structures, emphasizing the need for relocation. “The government is looking into how we can relocate some of these correctional centers, with Ikoyi being very key,” Tunji-Ojo said. “The law requires a buffer zone of about 100 meters, but here, it’s almost zero. This is a law-abiding government, and we will explore all avenues to ensure we do what is legally right.”
The minister also pointed to the Suleja Correctional Center, noting that it is just 7 meters away from the nearest house.
Tunji-Ojo further stated that the current administration aims to transform correctional centers into places of education and rehabilitation. However, he acknowledged that achieving this goal would be challenging in the existing urban environments.
