By Olusegun Obisanya
Comptroller of correctional centres, Lagos State Command, Ben-Rabbi Freeman has decried the congestion of inmates in Lagos State correctional centers which he blamed on lack of insufficient infrastructure.
He made this disclosure at the 2024 Conference 5th edition of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG’s) Prison and Hospital Ministry with the theme: “Wind of Divine Repositioning” which took place at Redemption City of God, Mowe, Ogun State.
Freeman expressed concern at the rate inmates are being brought to correctional centers such that within two weeks about 700 inmates are brought.
“We give kudos to The Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Prison & Hospital Ministry with the assertion that no Church or Ministry has been so relevant to our facilities, medical, educational intervention, training among others. We can recollect that during COVID-19, you brought food for inmates.
“However, in addition to congestion which have overstretched Ikoyi correctional center of 800 to 3,470 inmates, we have other challenges such as funding, inadequate data base.
“We can hinge the congestion on a large number of inmates awaiting trial, many of whom find it difficult to get legal representation and money,” he said.
He hoped that the State government with other concerned Nigerians, since the government cannot do it all alone, will come to the aid of correctional centers now that it is no longer restricted to exclusive list but now also in concurrent list.
The National Chairman, Prison and Hospital Ministry, Pastor Ariyo Popoola urged parents, guardians and religious bodies to dedicate significant time and focus to their children based on the observation in Remand Homes of the presence of area boys with deep concern.
He noted that the welfare of inmates has been a priority for the ministry with many of them receiving training in various vocational skills.
In his keynote address, the National Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Sunday Akande advised the ministry to align itself as one of the apparatus to stimulate numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in the pursuit of Visions 2032 mandate of RCCG.
The Special Adviser to the General Overseer, Administration, RCCG, Pastor Oladele Balogun, who spoke on spiritual rehabilitation from incarceration, said that this speaks to a crucial aspect of our common humanity: the universal right to freedom and God’s blessing to live freely.
Dr. Olumide Ibode at the event spoke on the health of the mind.
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