FG Plans to Relocate Prisons in Ikoyi and Other Areas to Ensure Public Safety and Convenience

The Federal Government is considering moving Ikoyi prison and other correctional facilities away from urban areas.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Constructed in 1955, the Ikoyi prison is situated in the upscale district of Lagos Island, with residential buildings sharing its high fence.

Tunji-Ojo mentioned that numerous prison facilities across the country have been encroached upon by urbanization, with some being only a few meters away from neighboring houses.

“Under this administration, we’ve not had any jail attack; what we’ve had was force majeure which was Suleja because that particular correctional centre was built in 1914. It’s about 110 years old.

“President Tinubu was not President a 110 years old. He inherited 256 correctional centres that needed attention. There is no way he would have completely overhaul it in one year.

“I must talk about urbanisation. Look at Suleja for example, the Suleja correctional centre that came down was only seven metres away from the next house. Instead of what the law says which is a buffer space of 100 metres. So, urbanisation has eaten deep.

“Look at Ikoyi Correctional Centre sharing a fence with (another house). What’s (a) correctional centre doing in Ikoyi? This administration is looking at being able to initiate the process of possibly relocating some of these correctional centres,” the minister said.

The minister also stated that the government would soon initiate an “inmate audit” across the 256 correctional centers in the country.

He mentioned that this action will aid in sanitizing the prison facilities by releasing inmates who have no legitimate reason to be there in the first place.

He concluded by stating that the government has initiated the renovation and reconstruction of some of the outdated prisons in the country.