The Abia State Government says it has sent officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to correctional facilities in Aba and Umuahia to assess the health conditions of inmates.
The state government also said it had taken steps to assist inmates in resolving their legal and other welfare challenges.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting.
He noted that most of the inmates serving in the Umuahia and Aba correctional centres were young people.
He explained that the state government was identifying areas where inmates required legal aid, bail assistance, medical attention and family support.
Kanu also stated that the government was providing examination opportunities for inmates.
In a related development, former Nigerian international boxer Ikechukwu Okoronkwo has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address dilapidated infrastructure at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Arochukwu, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
Okoronkwo, who visited the Arochukwu Correctional Centre over the weekend, expressed concern over the poor condition of the staff quarters.
He also expressed concern that the vehicle used to transport inmates to court was dilapidated.
Abia sends officials to Aba, Umuahia correctional facilities to assess inmates’ health conditions