Kirikiri Inmates To Get Improved Welfare

Mr Emmanuel Oluwaniyi, the Deputy Controller in charge of Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, has pledged better welfare for the inmates of the prison in line with modern practices and standard.

Oluwaniyi made the pledge on Thursday in Lagos when the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) visited the prison.

He said that though the prison faced numerous challenges including inadequate funding, the health and feeding of the inmates had remained a top priority of the authorities.

“The welfare of the inmates remains our priority and we will continue to collaborate with reputable NGOs like PRAWA in this regard,” he said.

‎Oluwaniyi, however, regretted that the facility had a capacity for 1,700 male inmates but currently accommodated 3,051 inmates.

The deputy controller said that 2, 627 of the inmates were awaiting trial, while only 424 were convicted, describing the situation as “very bad”.

He said that the special prison vocational skills acquisition programme for‎ inmates had been very useful in engaging and reforming the inmates.
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Most of the inmates were seen at the various‎ vocational centres learning one craft or the other.
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Some of the vocations which the inmates were engaged in are: tailoring, dyeing of cloth, barbing, bead making and dry cleaning.

There is also a computer training and tutorial class in the premises for those interested in furthering their education.

One of the inmates who gave his name as Michael who manages the laundry, said that they could be more productive with better facility.

Source: PMNews