The chairman of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Dr. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs, has called for urgent reforms to make Nigeria’s correctional facilities more humane and liveable and ensure they are equipped with adequate amenities.
She emphasised that inmates should be treated with dignity to reduce the likelihood of reoffending upon release, highlighting the critical need to address the country’s high recidivism rates.
Speaking at the inauguration of crucial infrastructure renovations in River State, Lulu-Briggs pointed out that overcrowded prisons contribute to poor living conditions, deprivation, and increased violence.
Mrs. Ibiere Akpana, who represented the Foundation at the inauguration ceremony, emphasised that the Foundation’s efforts align with its mission to uphold human dignity, justice, and societal transformation.
She said the intervention “Furthers our mission of implementing sustainable interventions that enhance the quality of life and livelihoods of the under-served, affirming the value of every human life.”
She further stated, “Prisons are often viewed solely as places of punishment, but we believe they are also places of rehabilitation and hope. By improving the living conditions here through the facilities we have just renovated, we are enhancing the physical space and affording them the facility to enhance their rehabilitation.”
Dr Lulu-Briggs lamented the dire conditions in Nigerian prisons, including overcrowding, poor nutrition, and the high number of inmates awaiting trial.
She stressed that these issues must be addressed for the well-being of inmates and the safety and stability of society at large.
“When prisoners are released without receiving the necessary support to reintegrate into society, the chances of them reoffending rise significantly. Without proper rehabilitation and correction in a correctional facility, they may struggle to settle back into society, which can lead to a cycle of crime that affects us all,” Lulu-Briggs said.
