By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia
As part of his familiarization tour of security agencies, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Nasarawa State, Barr. Isaac Danladi, paid a courtesy visit to the State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service at the Federal Secretariat, Jos Road, Lafia.
Accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, directors, and other senior officials of the Ministry, Barr. Danladi commended the Controller and officers of the command for the warm reception and their dedication to duty.
"You are full of energy and experience, and I am truly impressed by the level of professionalism I’ve witnessed here today," the Attorney General stated.
"We do not take your cooperation for granted. This visit is part of our foundational engagement with federal security agencies to deepen synergy and enhance the administration of justice in the state."
He noted that since his recent deployment from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to head the Ministry of Justice, he has prioritized building strong institutional partnerships, especially with agencies involved in the criminal justice process.
Addressing the challenges of overcrowding and prolonged detention of suspects awaiting trial, Barr. Danladi pledged to work closely with the Correctional Service to reduce the number of such inmates.
“You raised this issue during the last expanded security meeting, and I assure you, we are committed to finding sustainable solutions.
We’ll deploy all within our capacity to ensure justice is not only served but timely,” he assured.
In his remarks, the Controller of Corrections, Nasarawa State Command, Mr. Ya'u Ibrahim, appreciated the visit, describing it as timely and strategic.
"As a major stakeholder in the criminal justice system, your support is crucial to our success," Controller Ya'u stated. He revealed that the command currently holds 1,713 inmates across its facilities, with 1,178 of them awaiting trial. Only 473 are convicted inmates, while six are serving life sentences.
He emphasized the difficulty of managing human custodial needs, highlighting the psychological and logistical demands of running correctional centers. “Keeping human beings is different from keeping animals.
The stress involved is enormous,” he noted, adding that his over 14 years of experience in managing custodial centers has equipped him to understand and respond to the challenges effectively.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and the Correctional Service in ensuring justice delivery and upholding the rights of inmates.
