News
State Governments Can Offset, Waive Minor Fines Owed By Inmates – Aregbesola
The Federal Government has revealed that state governors can offset or grant waivers to inmates with fines less than N1 million.
This is according to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during the commissioning of a 20-bed space medical facility at Port Harcourt maximum security custodial centre.
Aregbesola said while the Federal Government is finding long time solutions to the challenge of prison decongestion, the State Government can in the meantime provide basic supports, like offsetting the meager fines and debts, building court houses at the correctional services premises or try the defendants virtually from the Correctional Centres for speedy determination of cases.
He held that some of the inmates are held behind bars for minor offences that can be easily waved by the states.
The Minister further stated that he recently asked the comptroller of Correctional centres to compile the list of inmates whose reason for incarceration is a fine or a debt not more than one million naira that are meant to be paid to the state governments.
According to him, about 5,000 inmates where shortlisted under this category and most of them have stayed long enough in the care of the Federal Government to consume foods worth more than they are supposed to pay as fines and debt to the states.
According to him, in Rivers State, there are about 22 of such inmates and the 22 of them are collectively owing a little above 3million naira, an amount he thinks the State Government can offset or wave for the inmates to be freed.
The minister noted that apart from reducing the financial burden on the Federal Government, such decisions by the state will also help in decongesting the correctional centres.
He said for instance, the Maximum facility in Port Harcourt was built 1,800 inmates, but as of May 12, 2023 the centre was holding 3,100 inmates.
While emphasizing that the situation in Port Harcourt is a reflection of the cases in most of the facilities across the country, the minister said Additionally, the Federal Government is building 6 mega facilities with at least 3,000 capacity in the six geopolitical zones to further decongest the existing facilities.
The one for the South-South is located in Bori in Khana Local Government Area of the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu has approved a one-year extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Originally set to end in August 2025, his tenure will now continue until August 2026.
According to a statement signed by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the extension aims to give Mr. Adeniyi the opportunity to consolidate key reforms and oversee the completion of major initiatives, including the modernisation of Customs operations, the National Single Window Project, and Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Tinubu commended Adeniyi’s leadership and expressed confidence that the extension would bolster trade facilitation, boost revenue generation, and enhance border security.
Appointed Comptroller-General in October 2023, Adeniyi recently achieved international recognition when he was elected Chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organization, the highest decision-making body in global customs affairs.
News
Kogi Governor Commends President Tinubu over Abuja-Lokoja Road Reconstruction
The Governor also commended the Works Minister, Engr Dave Imahi for the quality of job on the road.
The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing unparalleled commitment towards the completion of the Abuja-Lokoja road Reconstruction, saying his action has demonstrated his unwavering determination to fix the nation’s infrastructure deficit.
The Governor while inspecting a section of the road at Kotonkarfe in Kogi State said the President represents a “coalition of excellence”.
“This is our own coalition. This is what our President is doing and we are grateful to him. This is development”, he said.
The Governor also commended the Works Minister, Engr Dave Imahi for the quality of job on the road.
The Wife of the President Oluremi Remi Tinubu has donated the sum of one billion naira to victims of the horrific Yelwata attack in Benue State.
Oluremi Tinubu who announced the donation during her condolence visit to the state, described the killings as very unnecessary.
About 6 weeks after the heart wretching attack on Yelwata community of Guma local council of Benue State State Wife of the President Oluremi Tinubu visits to pay her condolence.
She proceeds to the new banquet hall of the Government house Makurdi where she meets with relevant stakeholders and makes a significant donation on behalf of council of the renewed hope agenda initiative.
Earlier State Governor Hyacinth Alia while appreciating the show of sympathy by the first family renewed his call for the establishment of State police.
Chairman State Council Of Chiefs the Tor Tiv Orchivirigh James Ayatse wants the killer terrorists flushed out of the State and neighbouring Nassarawa State.
He equally called for compensation for victims to rebuild their lives and return back to their ancestral homes.
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