In an ever-changing urban landscape, Nigeria’s correctional facilities face major challenges regarding their location and structure. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recently highlighted these concerns during an interview on Fatshimetrie channel on June 6, 2024.
Among the country’s most iconic prison facilities is Ikoyi Prison, built in 1955 in the upscale Lagos Island neighborhood. This historic prison shares its high walls with luxurious residences, illustrating the often close proximity between prisons and residential areas.
According to Minister Tunji-Ojo, many penitentiary establishments in the country are threatened by rampant urbanization, with some being located only a few meters from surrounding homes. He highlighted the case of the Suleja prison center, built in 1914, just seven meters from neighboring houses, against a legal standard of 100 meters for buffer spaces between prisons and homes.
The Minister highlighted the challenges that the government faces in modernizing and securing these establishments inherited from the past. He mentioned the upcoming initiative of an “inmate audit” across the country’s 256 correctional centers, aimed at assessing the situation of inmates and releasing those who should not be in custody.
This questioning of the location of prisons in the heart of urban areas raises crucial questions about land management and planning. The necessary reflection on the role of penitentiary establishments in densely populated urban environments is essential to ensure the safety of residents, while providing dignified conditions for prisoners.
It therefore appears clear that strategic political and urban planning decisions will be crucial to meet these challenges and guarantee an efficient prison system adapted to contemporary realities. The issue goes beyond the simple question of prison security to touch on the heart of the organization of our changing societies.