The Abia State Government has dispatched officials from its Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the Aba and Umuahia correctional facilities to evaluate the health conditions of inmates, the government said on Tuesday.
Commissioner for Information Okey Kanu briefed journalists at Government House in Umuahia following this week’s Executive Council meeting. He said most of the inmates in the two centres were young people and that the state was mapping out areas where prisoners required legal aid, bail assistance, medical attention and family support.
“We are identifying the specific needs of inmates and providing examination opportunities,” Kanu said.
In a related development, former Nigerian international boxer Ikechukwu Okoronkwo has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the dilapidated infrastructure at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Arochukwu, Abia State. Okoronkwo, who visited the facility over the weekend, raised concerns about the poor condition of staff quarters and the vehicle used to transport inmates to court.
The state government’s initiative follows its broader commitment to assist inmates in resolving legal and welfare challenges, according to officials.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
