According to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Federal Government has announced its intention to pay fines totaling N500 million to secure the release of 4,000 inmates from correctional facilities across Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo made this revelation during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday.

As part of the government’s plans to decongest correctional facilities, the minister explained that these 4,000 inmates are currently incarcerated due to their inability to pay fines amounting to over five hundred million naira. He assured that the process of releasing these inmates would be completed within the next four weeks.

Tunji-Ojo further explained that upon assuming office, he established a committee to review the situation of correctional centers. The committee’s findings revealed that a significant number of inmates remained in custody solely due to their inability to pay fines. To address this issue, the government has been engaging with the private sector to secure funding through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The goal is to gather the necessary funds and pay the fines for over 4,000 individuals, thereby reducing the current inmate population from 79,000 to 75,000.