As the decay in Nigerian prisons across the country continues unabated, resulting in more frustration and hopelessness for inmates, Nigerians are worried whether the system can still serve the purpose for which it was established. Deputy Editor, Soni Daniel, PAUL DADA, LAGOS, Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu, ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, PORT HARCOURT, Bernard Tolani Dada Uyo and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Kano examine the rot in the prisons and the effect on the inmates.
Most of the buildings housing Nigerian prisons are still cast in the mold of their British architecture. In spite of the passage of time, the structures have remained robust and are not about to give way in a hurry, a testimony to the quality of materials that were used by the colonial masters in erecting the penitentiary.
While many of the buildings are still intact, the purpose for which the British built the jails have long been defeated: they are no longer serving primarily as centres of reformation and deterrence.
Years of gradual neglect of the prisons, underfunding and maladministration have combined to weaken the system and render it ineffective in meeting the lofty ideals of the founding fathers. In responding to the decadence in the system, prison officials now see inmates more as condemned criminals who deserve whatever treatment that can be meted to them.
Crammed into overcrowded and poorly-kept rooms in the name of cells and fed with poor rations, the inmates also have to contain with inadequate medical facilities for as long as they remain in the prisons.
Three years ago the Birnin Kebbi Prison still had a section made up of mud houses where women were being kept.? As many as 100 inmates slept on bare floor there. In Kaduna prison, the section meant for juvenile reformation does not have what it takes to train the young ones and they often resort to other schools for examination practical. But generally, Nigerian prisons do not have enough room for the inmates.
From Kano to Uyo, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Lagos, the story of decay and retrogression in prison services is the same. The deterioration is not about to abate and the system stinks as a result.
The Port Harcourt Prisons, which was established in 1918 by colonial masters with several blocks of old structures that serve as cells, infirmary, workshops, and offices for officials, has not undergone any transformation since its inception.
?The multi-purpose prison, which is the largest in Rivers State, was originally built to accommodate 804 inmates but today, it houses more than 2,500 inmates, including women and juveniles.
?It also has gallows, which qualifies it to retain condemned criminals. Prominent among those who have been executed in the gallows were Kenule Saro-Wiwa and eight of his Ogoni kinsmen.
?LEADERSHIP? WEEKEND observed that although some of the inmates have been condemned to death or convicted of terrible crimes, most of the 2500 inmates are in limbo awaiting trial. Ninety percent of those in a the prison are yet to know the offence for which they were taken to prison.
?The prison conditions are so poor that they can easily break the spirits of the inmates. And when they fall sick as a result of the dehumanizing conditions and food produced in filthy conditions, they do not receive the medical attention they need.
?An inmate of the prison who simply identified himself as Dennis told LEADERSHIP it takes the intervention of humanitarian agencies and religious organizations for the inmates to have access to good medical attention and potable water.
?Another inmate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity described conditions inside the prison wall as nightmarish, pointing out that due to over-crowding, inmates sleep on bare floors and sometimes in their faeces.
The public relations officer of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) in the state, Mr. Alphius Ottah decried the condition of the Port Harcourt Prisons staff quarters as well as that of other prisons across the state.
?Ottah said; “Most areas of the staff? accomodation are dilapidated. The accommodation is not there. There are a lot of problems being faced by the staff which ought to be tackled.”
?He expressed worry over the over-crowding and lack of resources in the prisons, adding that recently, following pleas from the authorities of the prison, government granted pardon to about 250 inmates, so as to relieve the pressure on the system.
“He said that most of them use papers and rag as thier beds adding that, once you are dumped into and cell, you have to sort yourself out”
In Kano State, apart from two major prison yards at Kurmawa and Goron Dutse, there are satellite prisons in major towns such as Gwarzo, Wudil and Rano. However, checks by LEADERSHIP WEEKEND indicate that all the prison yards are in deplorable conditions on account of government’s neglect over the years.
Most, if not all of the structures, are in a state of disrepair with no basic amenities such as potable water, beddings and decent food.
An ex-prisoner who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed that though inmate get up to three rounds of meals daily, the nature of the food and how it is processed,? often trigger? some avoidable diseases, which are accentuated by shortage of drugs.
According to him, during the rainy seasons most inmates encounter untold hardship as they cope with leaking roofs. Hundreds of the occupants stay in crowded cells.
The situation is howver slightly better in Akwa Ibom State with five prisons in Uyo, Abak, Eket Ikot Ekpene and Ikot Abasi inherited from the colonial masters catering for a reasonable number of inmates. The combined capacity in the five jails is put at 1566 and the population of inmates is not far from the available space meant for accommodation.
Although the prisons were built as far back as 1925, they are still being regularly maintained.
The state Controller of prisons Mr. Ahaotu Charles Chwukuemeka, however pointed out that there was need to upgrade existing prison facilities across the state to cope with current world standard.
As at now Uyo prisons has 575 convicts and 448 awaiting trial; Ikot
Ekpene prison follows with 128 convicts and 99 awaiting trial, Abak has 155 and 138 awaiting trial, Eket has 139 regulars and 115 awaiting trial while Ikot
Abasi has 57 regular inmates and 44 awaiting trial.
With that number, the controller said that prisons in the state were under
populated while the facilities were adequate at least for the numbers in terms of accommodation.
“That is why we don’t have the problem of overcrowding,” he said.
The Enugu prison which was built in 1915 with a capacity of 638, now accommodates 1420 inmates, a situation that has almost turned the place into a market.
Over 80% of the inmates are awaiting trial.
The rot in Enugu Prisons occasioned by negligence is unmatched.
Although a few new buildings were constructed in the prisons recently,? over 90%? of the buildings are old and are in deplorable condition.
Although it has an Adult Education Centre? where inmates enroll for NECO and WAEC examinations and the National Open University, many of the inmates it. Was gathered shun the schools over lack of funds.
?LEADERSHIP WEEKEND observed that the only educational facility, which serves as a primary school for the inmates as well as the carpentry workshop in the prison are all in bad shape.
?And the number of minutes you will spend, as well as when to come out depends on how much you pay,” one of the inmates said.
?However, it was observed that the bribes which prison officials collect from inmates and their relatives may not be unconnected to their poor working and living conditions, which are stretched beyond any reasonable expectation.
??? A senior prison official, who spoke to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND on the condition of anonymity, said recently, as a result of pleas from prison officials, the government, increased the meagre feeding allowance for inmates but did not say how much it amounts to as the money passed through contractors.
?In Lagos, although Kirikiri prisons have the reputation of being a place where inmates suffer, investigations show that steps are being taken albeit slowly to improve the conditions of? the three prisons at Kirikiri which include the maximum, the medium and the female.
?There are complaints of decadence arising from the absence of toilets and bathrooms, forcing inmates to defacate into buckets.
? “We sleep over each other on the cold floor with out mats. You cannot turn, you have to stand up to turn; and if you even get a place on the floor to lie on, thank God,” an inmate narrated.
Investigations also revealed that there are hierarchies in the cells:? there are ‘generals cells’ which take up to 25 people and are not well-ventilated.
There are however ‘privileged cells’ whose conditions are better than those of the general cells. One of such cells is referred to as the “White House.” This was refurbished by an ex-inmate.
However, renovation work has taken place in the prison as the whole of medium prison has now been painted in bright colours.
On the physical condition of the prison buildings, Mr. Chuks Njoku,a Chief Superintendent of Prisons who is? the Public Relations Officer of the prisons told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND? that conscious efforts were being made to construct new buildings for prisons nationwide.
He also said there are now toilet facilities and 24-hour electricity supply. “If you see the medium prisons, the buildings are like those of a university,” said Njoku.
The initiatives of private individuals and organisations in giving the prisons a facelift is welcome.
Recently, Deputy Governor, of Lagos Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, commissioned an ultra modern multi-purpose hall, built by the Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church, through its non-governmental arm- The Great Life Changers Foundation for the benefit of the female prison inmates and humanity in general, during one of her evangelism mission to the prison.
?According to Njoku the inmates are being well treated. Prison officers are trained enough to be humane in their treatment of the inmates.
“We are departing from the era where the prison is punitive. We must follow the minimum standards set by the United Nations in the treatment of inmates. The prisoners see us as brothers and friends.
?“Even if you maltreat them you know that they are so many that they can pounce on you,” Njoku said.
?The prison image maker said though there are penalties for inmates who flout prison rules yet their fundamental rights are respected.
?Njoku’s assertion is contrary to the report that some inmates have to bribe prison officers in order to live a decent life in prison.