The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it has reactivated the abandoned Borstal Training Institute (BTI) Enugu to reform juvenile offenders in the South-East and South-South.

A borstal is a prison for young criminals not old enough to be sent to normal prisons.

Elizabeth Ezenwanne, a prison controller and BTI principal, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu.

Ms Ezenwanne said the BTI would also admit problem children for reformation after a court of competent jurisdiction must have perfected their warrants.

Ms Ezenwanne stated that the three-year programme would be without charge. She explained that the institute would cater for individuals aged 16 and 21 who committed a crime, were tried and convicted.

However, the controller said the centre had yet to take off due to a lack of vital facilities.

“Our amiable controller-general of corrections, Alhaji Haliru Nababa, deemed it fit to bring back the school to life by putting up some facilities. Our handicap now is the non-availability of water supply and electricity, the existence of dilapidated staff and principal quarters, absence of buildings for (a) chapel, mosque and clinic,” stated Ms Ezenwanne.

“Some parents who heard about the school when I featured on a radio programme have been coming here to have their stubborn children admitted. But accepting them where there is no water to take care of their personal hygiene is unfair,” added the BTI principal. “I have reached out to Nigerians asking for help to enable me to run this school, and I am still pleading as the federal government cannot do everything alone.”

According to her, taking juvenile offenders to conventional prisons is not good for the children.

“BTI was created to expose them to education and vocation for those that want to acquire skills. When we join them with adult criminals, they will come out worst people in society, so to avoid such, the institute came to be,” Ms Ezenwanne said.

(NAN)