Decongest prisons, Aregbesola tell States

The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has said states have a huge role to play in decongesting correctional centres. He pointed out that about 70 per cent of inmates awaiting trial were state offenders.

He called on states to either fast-track the trial of the inmates awaiting trial or build holding facilities for them. He said the Federal Government was ready to provide personnel that would man the facilities.

Aregbesola, who spoke through his media aide, Sola Fasure, in an interview on Friday, expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to work with states in decongesting the facilities.

He stated, “The most important step in decongestion has to be taken by the states and this is where we should all be looking into. More than 70 per cent of inmates awaiting trials are state offenders.