Prisons should serve as reform institutions - Gov. Masari

         
 - pledges support package to Prisons Academy

                                                           
Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari, has emphasized on the need for prison facilities throughout the country to be upgraded to serve as reform centres.                                                 
The governor stated this during a courtesy call on him by a study tour team of Advanced Command Course from the Prisons Academy, Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State led by the Assistant Controller- General of Prisons, ACG,  Oluwayiopese Benson at Government House Council Chamber, Katsina on Monday. 

The Governor lamented the current situation of prisons being centres of incarceration due to absence of standard facilities and infrastructure in Nigerian prisons.                       
He said some of the prisons were inherited from the colonial administration and had been stocked with inmates beyond their capacities.   

Masari noted that the prevalence of Niger Delta militants, Area boys in south west, south east, Kauraye in the North west , Boko Haram militia in the north east among others made prisons to be filled with youths who are between 15 to 35 years with most of their cases being awaiting trial.             

The Governor asked the participants of the course to utilize every opportunity to emphasize on the need for relevant authorities to change the status quo of the prisons to conform with world best practices.       

The Governor also pledged that he would either construct a hostel in the Academy or provide them with a pick-up van as requested by the ACG.           

The Governor assured that he would contact custom command in Katsina to auction vehicles apprehended for renovation and handover to the Katsina State Prisons Command for effective performance in carrying out prison reforms in Katsina State.


Earlier, the ACG who is also the Commandant of the Prisons Academy, said the participants were in Katsina as part of their study tour.       

Reports say that, Mr. Oluwayiopese commended the Governor for being the first to visit Katsina Prison shortly after he was sworn in in 2015.   

He thanked the Governor for being the first Chief Executive to give amnesty to 35 condemned convicts whose cases did not involve loss of life when their offences were committed.   

To decongest the prisons, he said Governor Masari had made payment of fines to those who are unable but with offences not related to theft.   

Katsina Media and Publicity reports that the ACG expressed gratitude to Governor Masari for ensuring that all boreholes became functional in Katsina Prisons, adding that the Governor had sustained provision of supplement to inmates during fasting and sallah festivities.   

Mr. Oluwayiopese emphasized the need for the Governor to construct a hostel to be dedicated and engraved in his name at the Academy in Ogun State or in the alternative provide a vehicle to the Academy.