The Catholic Church has called on the Nigerian government to urgently address the overcrowding and inadequate conditions in the country’s correctional facilities by constructing more prisons. Sir Charles Mbelede, the Worthy Supreme Knight of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Nigeria, raised this concern during a press briefing following this year’s convention in Calabar.
Mbelede highlighted the poor state of correctional centers, emphasizing that they are old, overcrowded, and ill-equipped to handle the growing number of inmates. He urged the Federal Government to institute radical reforms, including the construction of modern prisons, as current facilities are overstretched.
He also pointed out that while there are 84,000 inmates in the country’s correctional facilities, only 27,000 have been convicted, with the remaining awaiting trial. This figure exceeds the total capacity of the nation’s prisons, which is 50,000.
Mbelede stressed the importance of prioritizing inmate welfare and mentioned that the Knights of St. Mulumba have been actively providing support to prisoners through charity items, free medical services, and legal aid. However, he argued that these efforts are temporary and that comprehensive reforms are necessary for a long-term solution.
