The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, pledging stronger collaboration with the National Assembly to drive transformative change across the interior sector.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu N. Ogah, and members of his committee, Dr. Tunji-Ojo expressed appreciation for the legislative support that has advanced key reform initiatives, particularly in correctional institutions.
The Minister reported notable progress in reducing Nigeria’s prison population, revealing that the number of inmates had dropped from over 86,000 to approximately 81,450. This, he explained, was the result of a deliberate and humane review process that identified individuals incarcerated over minor, bailable offences and facilitated their release.
“Our government is working hard to enhance the strength of our institutions and ensure that even the most forgotten citizens are not left behind,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stated. He described the Nigerian Correctional Service as the agency “closest to his heart” because of its emphasis on justice, rehabilitation, and humanity.
Highlighting the philosophy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Minister stressed that “the strength of government is not in how it treats the powerful, but how it uplifts the weakest.” He emphasized the constitutional and moral responsibility to treat inmates with dignity and fairness, noting that correctional facilities should not be centres of neglect but of transformation.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo lauded the harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislature, which he described as “a model of interdependence rather than rivalry.” According to him, the visible progress in the correctional sector is proof of what can be achieved through institutional synergy and shared national vision.
“We must appreciate where we’re coming from to value how far we’ve come,” he said, reiterating his open-door policy and unwavering commitment to inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement.
In his remarks, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, praised the Minister and his team for their “effective and innovative achievements in Nigeria’s security and reformatory landscape.” He described the visit as a show of solidarity and a recognition of the Ministry’s alignment with the President’s broader reform agenda.
“The remarkable improvements we’ve witnessed in the correctional institutions reflect a clear commitment to national transformation and humane governance,” Ogah noted.
The meeting concluded with renewed pledges for collaboration, transparency, and legislative support to sustain ongoing reforms in the country’s correctional and interior sectors
