The Federal Government under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is totally committed to decongesting the Nigeria Prisons. As the cases of awaiting trial inmates is about 70 – 75% of the total inmates population.

The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro made this known at the official commissioning of 25 operational and utility vehicles by the Nigeria Prisons Service, at the Prisons National Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, September 19, 2013.

While speaking further, he said the Federal Government has approved the purchase of additional 40 vehicles to be distributed across the nation in a bid to facilitate conveying awaiting trial inmates from the prisons to court, as the issue of inadequate vehicles to convey the inmates to court and attend other operational duties is worrisome to the Nigeria Prisons Service as well as a great concern to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He tasked officers to carry out their duties conscientiously so as to improve the image of the Service in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President Goodkluck Jonathan.

Earlier, the Controller General of Nigeria Prisons, Mr. Zakari Ibrahim said the service will take adequate care of the vehicles as the vehicles will greatly help in reducing logistic challenges faced by Prison Service, especially as it concerns escort of prisoners to the about 3,900 courts in the country.

Also, while declaring the workshop on Peace and Inter-Agency co-operation open at Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Academy in Abuja, Comrade Abba Moro stressed the need for stakeholders to collaborate to effectively tackle the insecurity challenge in the country.

The Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. John Ade Abolurin said that the dividends of democracy will only be completely reaped when violence and destruction of critical infrastructure is completely eradicated.