Gov. Otti Reaffirms Commitment To Decongesting Abia Correctional Facilities

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has reiterated that his administration’s investment in new correctional infrastructure is aimed at reducing congestion and improving conditions in custodial centres across the state.

Governor Otti made the remark on Friday, November 21, 2025, when the new Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Zone E, Owerri, and Assistant Controller General of Corrections, Dr. Ngozi Amanze, paid him a familiarisation visit at Government House, Umuahia.

According to him, overcrowding in correctional centres contributes to crime and undermines rehabilitation, stressing that facilities should reform inmates—not harden them.

“Our intention when we decided to build new facilities is to reduce congestion and reduce the temptation to more crime in there,” the Governor stated.
“Even when people go there, we also want them to be corrected and reformed, rather than becoming hardened criminals.”

Governor Otti disclosed that shortly after assuming office, a discussion with former Kaduna lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, drew his attention to the poor condition of the Aba Correctional Centre. The engagement, he said, prompted a government assessment of the facility, coinciding with concerns raised by the Service over land encroachment.

The Governor further revealed that in the past two years, his administration made efforts to grant pardon to inmates convicted of minor offences as part of a decongestion strategy, but the review found mostly individuals serving sentences for serious crimes.

“We attempted in the last two years to grant pardon to inmates, but we couldn’t find those with minor offences. We hope you will help us look again. We don’t want the number to increase because when you have a large number of your population in those facilities, it means crime is increasing.”

He also pledged government support in improving healthcare delivery within the facilities, directing the Commissioner for Health to carry out an assessment with a view to establishing fully functional primary healthcare centres.

“Where you have such a large number of people, you should have working medical facilities. Even if it’s not a hospital, there should be a healthcare centre to attend to inmates. We will support you with that,” he assured.

Earlier in her remarks, the Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Amanze, commended the Governor for his continued support to the Correctional Service, noting that several interventions by the state government—including the construction of a fortified wall at the Aba centre, installation of solar lights, and a new storey building comprising six cell blocks—have improved operational efficiency and staff morale.

She described congestion as a national challenge but expressed optimism that the ongoing expansion of facilities in the state would ease pressure, particularly at the Aba Custodial Centre.

The visit had in attendance the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd.), alongside other senior security aides.