Prison de-congestion: Group begins collation of prisoner’s data

Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, (PRAWA) has begun
collation of prisoner’s data of four central prisons of Nigeria
that include Enugu, Kano, Lagos and Abuja for onwards transmission
to the Comptroller General of the Service as part of the group’s
attempt in decongesting the country’s prisons.

Conducting the last lap of the prisoner’s data verification
exercise in Kano on Tuesdday, the PRAWA Executive Director, Mr
Yinka Lawal, said the aim of the exercise was to know the actual
number and categories of the inmates so as to tackle their unjustly
and unnecessary long stay in detention adding that, the exercise
would give room for easy identification persons that have stayed in
prisons beyond their jail term if sentenced.

Speaking during the occasion, PRAWA board member Barrister
Fatima Kwaku said, the disturbing scenario of prison congestion is
an issue that needs an urgent attention, she noted that it is sad
to see a situation where a prisoner stays in detention for years
without being sentenced.

The team Leader Prison Reform Project Dr Uju Agomoh, reminded
that PRAWA is a non-profit making organization whose runs three
components programs of Security and Justice sector reform, Social
Development and Rehabilitation and Research, Documentation
programme component. She said the project seek to support the
Nigeria Prisons caused mainly high rate of awaiting trial persons
in the prisons who are held in Prisons custody for unduly long
period of time.

Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, (PRAWA) has begun
collation of prisoner’s data of four central prisons of Nigeria
that include Enugu, Kano, Lagos and Abuja for onwards transmission
to the Comptroller General of the Service as part of the group’s
attempt in decongesting the country’s prisons.

Conducting the last lap of the prisoner’s data verification
exercise in Kano on Tuesdday, the PRAWA Executive Director, Mr
Yinka Lawal, said the aim of the exercise was to know the actual
number and categories of the inmates so as to tackle their unjustly
and unnecessary long stay in detention adding that, the exercise
would give room for easy identification persons that have stayed in
prisons beyond their jail term if sentenced.

Speaking during the occasion, PRAWA board member Barrister
Fatima Kwaku said, the disturbing scenario of prison congestion is
an issue that needs an urgent attention, she noted that it is sad
to see a situation where a prisoner stays in detention for years
without being sentenced.

The team Leader Prison Reform Project Dr Uju Agomoh, reminded
that PRAWA is a non-profit making organization whose runs three
components programs of Security and Justice sector reform, Social
Development and Rehabilitation and Research, Documentation
programme component. She said the project seek to support the
Nigeria Prisons caused mainly high rate of awaiting trial persons
in the prisons who are held in Prisons custody for unduly long
period of time.