The Federal Government has approved the recruitment of 50 medical doctors and 100 nurses to strengthen healthcare services in correctional centres across Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, paid him a courtesy visit.
According to the minister, the approval followed concerns about the shortage of medical personnel in several correctional facilities across the country.
Tunji-Ojo explained that some correctional centres currently operate with limited healthcare staff, while others lack medical doctors entirely.
He cited a correctional centre in Rivers State as an example, noting that the facility’s hospital has been operating without a medical doctor to provide services for inmates.
The minister, however, noted that some correctional centres are equipped with medical facilities capable of handling major surgical procedures. He mentioned that the facility in Kuje has equipment that can support complex medical operations.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the government remains committed to improving the welfare of inmates and ensuring that those in correctional custody receive adequate healthcare.
He also revealed that the Federal Government has introduced programmes aimed at building the capacity of inmates through vocational training initiatives.
According to him, authorities conducted an inmate skills audit across correctional centres to identify the talents and abilities of inmates, which has helped guide training programmes designed to improve their skills and prepare them for reintegration into society after serving their sentences.
The minister added that the government has also improved the welfare of inmates by increasing their feeding allowance by 50 percent.
Tunji-Ojo further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to ensure that government reforms and achievements are properly communicated to the Nigerian public.
He also highlighted recent security initiatives within the sector, including the creation of “mine marshals” under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at protecting mining sites and critical national assets, while also helping to reduce criminal activities and violence within the mining sector.
