Nigeria’s growing prison overcrowding problem is being worsened by the prolonged detention of young people who lack adequate legal representation, according to the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in Abia State.
The council says many young detainees remain in correctional centres for extended periods because they cannot afford legal services or face delays in the justice system, leaving them behind bars while awaiting trial for offences that may not warrant lengthy detention.
Speaking during a meeting with the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Umuahia, the state’s Legal Aid Council Coordinator, Obinna Odenigbo, said improving access to justice is essential to reducing congestion in correctional facilities. He stressed that many young people are losing valuable years of their lives due to delays in legal proceedings.
Odenigbo recalled meeting a talented young inmate with exceptional craftsmanship, saying such skills should be contributing to the economy rather than remaining locked behind prison walls while awaiting trial.
In response, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, pledged the ministry’s support for initiatives that provide young people with a second chance. He said the administration of Governor Alex Otti is implementing programmes aimed at reducing youth unemployment and discouraging crime through empowerment opportunities.
The collaboration between the Legal Aid Council and the state government is expected to strengthen access to legal representation, speed up the justice process and help decongest correctional centres while giving more young Nigerians an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
