The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has attributed the detention of minors in adult correctional facilities primarily to systemic failures at the state level, particularly the collapse and non-functionality of juvenile remand homes across Nigeria.
This concerning situation was highlighted by Timothy Dabit, the Head of the Welfare Department of the NCoS, during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the NCoS, held on Monday in Abuja.
The panel, established by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. Other members include the Executive Director of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), who serves as the panel’s secretary, alongside Consultant Iyke from Brekete Family, among others.
Dabit explained that minors often end up in adult custodial centres due to police actions where children are brought in with warrants for their detention. “Sometimes, a child arrives with a warrant, and we are obliged to admit them based on that document, as it contains details about the child,” he said.
However, when minors are sent to adult facilities, the NCoS raises questions with the police regarding the justification, but the matter often becomes contentious, leaving the NCoS dependent on police explanations.
One of the core reasons for this unacceptable practice, according to Dabit, is the lack of functional juvenile remand homes close to the places where these children are arrested.
Currently, only three such juvenile facilities exist and are operational in Kaduna, Ilorin, and Abeokuta. He noted that geographical limitations and inadequate infrastructure force officials to place minors in unsuitable environments — often adult prisons.
Overcrowding further exacerbates the problem. For instance, the Kaduna borstal has a capacity of 288 inmates, Ilorin 250, and Abeokuta 250. In reality, most of these facilities, except Ilorin, are operating beyond capacity.
Dabit further disclosed that of the three, only the Abeokuta centre is actively used for remand purposes. “If you go to Ilorin, you will not find inmates or those awaiting trial. So, it is only Abeokuta that is requisitioned for that duty,” he explained.
Highlighting the root of the problem, Dabit emphasized that the establishment and maintenance of remand homes are constitutionally the responsibilities of state governors.
In the past, most states operated functional juvenile remand homes. Sadly, many of these have since fallen into disrepair or have been shut down. He appealed to the investigative panel to leverage its influence to urge state governments to revive their remand homes, thereby ensuring that young offenders are placed in safer, age-appropriate environments.
“This panel will do us a lot of good if we can get in contact with the state governors. Let them rejuvenate their remand homes so that young offenders can be put there in calm,” Dabit implored.
On a related issue concerning pregnant women in custody, Dabit refuted claims that pregnancies occur while women are incarcerated. He clarified that many pregnant women are admitted already expecting, and upon arrival, a pregnancy test is administered immediately. “It is an emergency to ensure that the person is free,” he added, stressing that no pregnancies are contracted within correctional centres.
The NCoS official also highlighted that personnel working in borstal institutions receive specialized training, wear distinctive uniforms, and collaborate with professionals such as psychologists to attend to the unique needs of minors in custody. This multidisciplinary approach aims to provide the appropriate care and support for vulnerable detainees.
Despite the explanations provided by the NCoS, representatives of the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists and the Nigerian Psychological Association raised serious concerns about the treatment of minors and other vulnerable populations within correctional facilities. Speaking on behalf of both organizations, Dr. Abigail Onu praised the panel for shedding light on these systemic abuses but condemned the ongoing detention of children in adult prisons.
“We urge the government to remove children under 18 from adult facilities, provide specialized care centres, or approve orphanages equipped with psychological and medical support,” Onu asserted.
She further stressed the long-term psychological damage that detention in adult facilities causes to young people, citing the profound effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Dr. Onu called for comprehensive nationwide reforms, including the recruitment of more clinical psychologists, the adoption of trauma-informed care models, and the expansion of mental health services within the correctional system to better support vulnerable detainees.