By Olukayode Babalola
Wamba – A Nasarawa Government delegation to assess prison facilities in the state
has decried the inadequate medical facilities made available for inmates in Lafia and Wamba prisons.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Mr Tim Yiga, who led the delegation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday after the delegation had inspected the Wamba Prison that facilities there were in bad shape.
The delegation was also to assess inmates who were qualified and to make recommendations for their amnesty on Oct. 1.
Yiga said one of the major challenges facing both Lafia and Wamba prisons was inadequate medical equipment and drugs to cater for the large number of inmates.
The commissioner added that in a crowded environment with inadequate medical resources, infections may not be effectively
taken care of, hence the need to recommend the provision of adequate facilities and resources in both prisons.
He noted that “facilities available in the clinics are not adequate. Take for instance, if there is an epidemic in a place like this, many may be affected. We will demand in our report that something be done and done fast too`.”
He also decried the state of the walls in both prisons which according to him were not strong enough to last long because they were not built and plastered in accordance with international standards.
Yiga, however, commended the prison officials for maintaining clean environment and orderliness among the prisoners.
He noted that the delegation would take a critical look at the list of prisons nominated for clemency and come out with final recommendation on those who deserved clemency.
Earlier, Mr Ekwere Ekanem, the Comptroller of Nigerian Prisons Service, Nasarawa command, had appealed to the delegation to highlight all the needed inadequacies in their report so that government could take necessary steps to improve on it.
He then urged the prisoners to be of good behaviour always so as to qualify for clemency when the need arose.
The Lafia prison has about 600 inmates, while Wamba prisons has 80 inmates. (NAN)