By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, has called on the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to take immediate action to address the public healthcare challenges in the facility nationwide.
This action, Ugomoh suggested is, “the immediate mapping of all the Custodial Centres across the country, identifying their status in terms of water, sanitation and hygiene as well as showing where there are challenges so that certain interventions can be done to bring solutions”.
NBA-SPIDEL Chairperson made the call on Thursday during the collection of data of inmates without legal representation and formal presentation of solar powered installation for borehole and clinics lighting facility at Uyo Medium Security Custodial Center, Akwa Ibom State.
Associate Professor Ugomoh, who noted the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene to the life and well-being of both inmates and officials of the custodial centres also called for support from well-meaning Nigerians to address the challenge.
“We want to use this opportunity also to call on all well meaning Nigerians wherever they are, to ensure that water, sanitation and hygiene is being prioritized across the length and breadth of all custodial facilities in this country because it is one thing to detain people in the custodial centre, it is also another thing to ensure that their rights to life and well-being are maintained,” NBA-SPIDEL Chairperson added.
It would be recalled that NBA-SPIDEL members, during their recent conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, visited Uyo Custodial Centre where they interacted with both the inmates and officials who reeled out the problems confronting the centre. Chiefly among them, is water crisis which has serious health implications on sanitation and hygiene of the inmates.
Commenting on the NBA-SPIDEL intervention at Uyo Custodial Centre, the Chairperson said that the installation of solar power project for borehole will ease the crisis of water shortage confronting the population of about 2000 inmates at the Centre as well as provide lighting at the clinic.
Agomoh, who expressed concern over reports of the prevailing water crisis at the centre said her organisation decided to act following request for intervention during a visit to the centre in December, this year.
According to her, “‘On that day, the delegation of NBA-SPIDEL came to this facility following a week-long conference that held here in Akwa Ibom State. On that day, we had the opportunity of interacting with both inmates and the staff.
”You will recall that the most important problem that the officer in-charge gave us was the fact that there is no water. He went ahead to explain why there was no water
She added, ”Whenever you want to solve a problem you must make an effort to understand the root cause of that problem because when you understand the root cause of any problem and you ensure that your intervention addresses that root cause, be rest assure that the intervention will have a long term.
”So the officer-in-charge said that the root cause is electricity and that they have been buying diesel and he was busy requesting for diesel and we wonder how many drums of diesel we will be able to provide for him to make the difference and we reasoned that it’s important to have a permanent solution.”
On the 115 inmates without legal representation, the chairperson promised to do the needful by ensuring that they get free legal support.
She also used the opportunity to encourage many other persons and institutions to do the needful to ensure that Nigerian justice delivery system is such that is fair, humane and effective.
”The officer-in-charge handed over to us a list of 115 inmates and we have taken hold of that list and we will do the needful,” she added
In his remarks, the Controller of Corrections, Akwa Ibom State Command, C C Theophilus Okoka, appreciated NBA-SPIDEL for its concern to humanity, noting that the “intervention would address acute water shortage being experienced at the centre over the years as well as the Christmas gifts to the inmates.
“Water, as we all know, is fundamental to life, dignity, health, and sanitation. For a custodial centre, access to clean and reliable water supply is critical to maintaining basic human rights standards, improving hygiene, and supporting the overall welfare of inmates and staff. This solar-powered borehole will significantly ease the challenges associated with water scarcity, reduce operational stress, and enhance the living conditions within this facility.
“Beyond the physical structure we are commissioning today, this project sends a powerful message. It underscores the importance of collaboration between institutions, particularly between the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Correctional Service, in advancing justice, human rights, and humane corrections. It also reflects the shared belief that custodial centres should not merely be places of confinement, but environments that uphold dignity and support rehabilitation,” C C Theophilus Okoka acknowledged.
Earlier, the officer-in-charge, Uyo Custodial Centre, Dr. Ezekiel Inyang who appreciated the NBA-SPIDEL for addressing the water scarcity at the centre, presented a list of `115 inmates without legal representation for intervention.
Our Correspondent observed that NBA-SPIDEL had in the spirit of Christmas, donated bags of rice, cows, bags of bottled water and soft drinks to the centre.
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