By Abdulaziz Mala <\/p>\n
A concerned citizen, Edreez Ngulde, has called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to urgently improve the welfare and living conditions of inmates at the Maiduguri Correctional Facility in Borno State.<\/p>\n
Ngulde made the call after a recent private visit to the facility, saying the experience raised serious concerns about the basic welfare of some inmates and changed his perception of conditions behind correctional walls.<\/p>\n
He expressed particular concern over access to essential medicines, clean and sufficient water, sanitation and protection against mosquito bites, stressing that these are basic necessities that should be available to people in government custody.<\/p>\n
According to him, inmates may lose their freedom as a consequence of the law, but they should not lose their right to basic healthcare, clean water, humane treatment and dignity.<\/p>\n
Ngulde noted that issues such as access to clean drinking water and mosquito nets may appear ordinary to people outside correctional facilities but can become critical to the health and wellbeing of inmates.<\/p>\n
He said the availability of essential medicines is particularly important, as timely medical attention can prevent illnesses from becoming more serious and potentially save lives.<\/p>\n
The concerned citizen also called for adequate provision of mosquito nets, proper sleeping environments and improved sanitation to reduce health risks within the facility.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the responsibility of a correctional system should go beyond confinement and punishment to include rehabilitation, education, healthcare, skills acquisition and preparation for eventual reintegration into society.<\/p>\n
Ngulde maintained that healthcare, clean water, sanitation, education, vocational training and human dignity are all essential components of effective rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
He clarified that his call for improved conditions does not mean that people who violate the law should escape punishment, but that legitimate punishment should not be accompanied by neglect of basic human needs.<\/p>\n
He also pointed out that not everyone in correctional facilities has been convicted, as some inmates are awaiting trial while their cases remain before the courts, making their welfare an important responsibility of government.<\/p>\n
Ngulde therefore urged the authorities to conduct an urgent assessment of the Maiduguri facility, particularly its medical services, water supply, sanitation facilities and availability of mosquito nets and other essential items.<\/p>\n
He called for regular and independent inspections of correctional facilities, stronger monitoring of inmates’ welfare and transparent mechanisms for reporting and investigating complaints.<\/p>\n
He further advocated stronger partnerships between government, healthcare organisations, humanitarian groups, civil society organisations and responsible members of the public to support welfare and rehabilitation programmes.<\/p>\n
Ngulde said the way inmates are treated while in custody can influence their ability to successfully reintegrate into society, stressing that accountability must be combined with dignity, healthcare, education and opportunities for positive change.<\/p>\n
He concluded by calling on the Federal Government, Nigerian Correctional Service, Borno State Government and other stakeholders to urgently address identified gaps, stressing that justice should not end at the prison gate but must include dignity, healthcare and the basic necessities of human life.I can also make it more broadcast-friendly, with shorter sentences and a stronger Radio Nigeria lead and conclusion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Abdulaziz Mala A concerned citizen, Edreez Ngulde, has called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to urgently improve the welfare and living conditions of inmates at the Maiduguri Correctional Facility in Borno State. Ngulde made the call after a recent private visit to the facility, saying the experience raised serious concerns about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17,18,12,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-headline","category-heritage","category-maiduguri","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n