By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Kaduna.
Nigeria spends ten billion naira (N10B) annually to feed prison inmates and this is unacceptable, the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rtd) has revealed.
Speaking at the North West Town Hall Meeting in Kaduna, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Danbazzau said there are about 70, 000 inmates in Nigerian Prisons with 70 per cent of them awaiting trials.
He also revealed that out of the 70 per cent awaiting trials, majority is as a result of non affordability of fines and spend years behind bars which should not be so.
The retired General and Former Army Chief said there is a strong relationship between security and development, asserting that security agents with the responsibility of internal security as inherited by this administration are weak in capacity, equipment and financing.
He emphasised the need for retraining, financing, capacity building and moral boost without which you can achieve little or nothing.
Danbazzau said despite decimating and degrading Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, winning the war is 20 per cent and winning the peace is 80 per cent and this is where the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) come in he said.
There is a huge gap between the Police and the public that the Police are meant to serve, hence the need for the reforms of the Police in capacity building, equipment, general welfare, discipline, attitudinal change towards the public.
The Federal Government would collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the reconstruction, reintegration and rehabilitation of the North East and the victims he assured.
He stressed that the farmers/herders crises has a long history, not limited to Nigeria and the Fulanis, but herders generally and has an international regional dimension. Ghana and other African countries are also experiencing same upheaval and Nigeria would introduce biometric at all entry points.
Most of Nigeria’s challenges emanate from trans-border crimes he asserted.
He also revealed that the Ministry is working towards reviving Prison Farms or privatise them for optimum output.
