ENUGU- The Nigerian Prisons Service has asked the Enugu State Government to expedite action to relocate the Enugu Prison.
The Comptroller General of the service, Dr Peter Ekpendu, made the appeal in Enugu when he paid a visit to Governor Sullivan Chime.
Ekpendu said that the service had recorded cases of attacks on the prison because of its location.
According to him, the relocation of the facility will curtail such attacks.
The comptroller general said that he was in the state to brainstorm with the government and his personnel to see how the attacks could be reduced.
According to him, urban development has grown in the coal city with markets and other commercial activities springing up close to the Enugu Prison.
“The state government is yet to tidy up the plans with the ministry of interior to effect the relocation with regard to the drawings and legal implications,’’ he said.
Commenting on the large number of inmates in the prisons, the comptroller general said the service was collaborating with the Enugu State judiciary to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.
Ekpendu lamented that the operations of the service were hampered by lack of utility vehicles and appealed to the state government to provide the service with vehicles to transport inmates to the courts.
He said that there were more than 28 magisterial districts in Enugu State where cases of inmates were determined.
“We need vehicles to ensure that inmates get to courts early and easily to ensure speedy dispensation of justice,’’ he said.
Responding, Chime reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure the relocation of the prison.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Rev. Raphael Nwoye, said the government had allocated land for the relocation.
He promised that the government would conclude the plan to effect the relocation.
