A senior lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has advocated the sale of some underutilised correctional centres in the country to fund education.

Last October, the constitutional lawyer had urged the federal government to introduce electronic tags for inmates awaiting trial in correctional centres to ease overcrowding.

Mr Ajulo said this in a letter he wrote to President Bola Tinubu, which was made available on Friday.

“I write on the need to sell some of the correctional centres in prime areas to raise funds for education in Nigeria,” the senior advocate stated in the letter.

Mr Ajulo emphasised the pressing need for additional funding to support the development of education in the country, adding that Nigeria’s education sector has been facing numerous challenges.

According to him, this includes inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and unequal access to quality education. 

He added that these obstacles have hindered the growth and potential of Nigerian youth, preventing them from achieving their full capabilities.

“To address this funding gap, I propose considering the sale of underutilised assets, particularly the correctional centres, located in prime areas. Such places include Ikoyi Prisons and others in high-value locations in Nigeria,” the letter explained.

Mr Ajulo said the market value of the Ikoyi Prison was around N50 billion, stressing that about half a trillion naira could be realised from the sale of similar centres in Nigeria.

He said by “divesting such properties, we can generate a substantial influx of funds that can be allocated to improving educational infrastructure.”

This, according to him, would enhance the quality of teaching and provide scholarships to deserving students across the country.

“I understand that the decision to sell correctional centres requires careful consideration, taking into account the legal implications and security concerns,” the senior lawyer admitted.

But Mr Ajulo said he understood the need to maintain a balanced criminal justice system.

He explained that with proper evaluation and planning, Nigeria could strike a balance between addressing the funding needs of education and ensuring a well-functioning correctional system.

Mr Ajulo commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his laudable policy implementation and unwavering passion for his role. He said his dedication and commitment to improving the conditions and welfare of inmates in correctional centres deserved recognition and celebration.

The lawyer said the minister’s efforts demonstrated a genuine concern for the well-being and rehabilitation of individuals within the correctional system.

He said this aligned with the principles of justice, fairness and humanity.

“I believe that acknowledging and celebrating the minister’s achievements will not only boost his morale but also inspire other public officials to deliver their duties with similar dedication and patriotism,” noted Mr Ajulo.

In September, state governors were advised to formulate and implement laws to aid prison decongestion.

“We have a large number of awaiting trial inmates in Nigeria. About 70 per cent of people in prison are awaiting trial, and we also have data that 90 per cent of people we find in our facilities are actually state offenders,” stated Funke Adeoye, executive director of Hope Behind Bars Africa. 

(NAN)