By Kure Tashilane.
…
Nasarawa State Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule has assured the Nigeria Correctional Service Lafia Custodial Centre new Controller Yau Ibrahim fsi. of his administration’s commitment to do whatever that is required in transforming the hitherto Almajiri school in Awe as additional custodial center.
He stated this Tuesday March 18th, 2025 in Lafia when he received in his office the newly posted Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service to the state Yau Ibrahim fsi. who led his management team on a familiarization visit at the government house.
” I also know that you are still working on Awe because of the congestion you have always mentioned. I don’t know really what is pending on that; but if there is anything, we believe is waiting on our own side, we will go ahead and address that and ensure that you take over the site …
” It was originally meant for the Almajiri school but we are approaching the Almajiri system now differently. The new Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is also very passionate about the Almajiri system as well. Just yesterday, I received a report on what she is planning to do especially in Nasarawa state ” The Governor explained.
He stressed that the Nigeria Correctional Service can go ahead and use the Awe designated additional custodial center in other to decongest the over crowded inmates in Lafia.
Earlier, the newly deployed Controller Nigerian Correctional Service Nasarawa state Yau Ibrahim said he was at the Governor’s office to formally introduce himself as the nineteenth substantive Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service.
” Your Excellency, I feel distinctly honoured to be here following my posting as the nineteenth (19th) substantive Controller of Correctional Service in Nasarawa State. I am here to oversee the affairs of this command. I am here to officially and formally introduce myself and my vision for a better correctional service ” Yau stated.
He pointed out that he is glad to serve at this point in time under the most correctional friendly governor in the whole of north central zone as Nasarawa state ranks top among the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
The Controller of Correctional Service equally appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for his proactive security surveillance which is made possible through inter-agencies collaborations which has brought to bear operational stability in all Correctional Service Custodial Centres in Nasarawa State.
” Based on available records, we have never recorded jailbreak or unrest since the inception of your regime despite presence of serial threats …
” As of today, the total inmate we have in Lafia custodial center is one thousand six hundred and ninety two (1,692) out of which 1,170 are awaiting trials. This is the cause of our problems in custodial centers due to awaiting trials as a result of lack of quick dispensation if justice …
” As those awaiting trials are kept there pending when the police finished their investigations by bringing evidences before the judges for the cases to be disposed ” The Controller stated.
Yau stressed that Lafia alone is serving six local government areas which is the reason why Lafia Custodial Centre is always congested. Today, Lafia has 474 inmates and the capacity is supposed to be 412 inmates.
He suggested that the facility in Awe when harnessed and put into use would be strategic in the decongestion Lafia Custodial Centre moving forward.
The Controller equally noted that sequel to the expansion of duties and responsibilities of the Nigerian Correctional Service, aimed at accommodating the non-custodial services; officers had been posted across the 13 LGA of the state as desk officers to provide non-custodial services at that levels by sentencing offenders to various useful ventures instead of bringing them to the custodial centers.