…Demands Establishment Of Court Rooms Closer To Major Correctional Centres
The Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, has advocated the relocation of correctional centres in light of the recent Kuje prison attack.
He made this known when the new controller of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Lagos State command, paid him a courtesy visit in the office today.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Fund Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, briefed the management team from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos Command led by Controller of Corrections BR Freedman on the mandate of the Fund as well as its activities.
He noted that the Fund solely relies on voluntary donations to meet its mandate, and there has been a shortfall in donations. This challenge has hindered the Fund from providing as many interventions for the security agencies as required.
Dr. Balogun also spoke on some concerns of citizens about the operations of the correctional centres. This includes issues bothering the preparedness of the facilities and operatives to respond to unrest within the facilities.
Also, the congestion in the facilities, particularly with the recent incidence at the Kuje correctional centre is of utmost concern. According to Balogun, the recent attack should make the authorities deploy more resources to correctional facilities, especially in Lagos.
Balogun suggested that the Service should consider the possibility of relocating the correctional centres to create more room for inmates, establishing courtrooms closer to major correctional centres or virtually reducing the risk/cost related to logistics, and the transportation of inmates to the courts in far locations.
The administrator of the Fund mentioned that the Fund had supported the correctional service in the past with patrol vehicles, high-capacity buses for conveying inmates, etc.
He assured the agency of LSSTF’s continuous intervention as much as possible, while also asking that the controller use his good office to encourage notable organizations and people in his network to make donations to the Fund for the benefit of security agencies in the state towards the improvement of security for all.
In his response, Mr. BR Freedman who recently took over as the controller of the Lagos State command intimated the Fund on the operations of the correctional service as well as its challenges.
He noted that LSSTF is a key security stakeholder in the security of the State, and he is using this opportunity to seek synergy towards the operation of an efficient criminal justice system.
He also used the opportunity to table the request of his agency for more logistics and equipment for safer custody such as Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), communication jammers, scanner, electric fencing, etc. to improve its operations.
Freedman pledged to do his best to ensure that the security of the correctional centres in Lagos state is beefed up to avert any untoward event.
