Taxpayers in the United Kingdom are to foot the bill to revamp jails in Nigeria and Jamaica so that the convicts in British prisons can be deported without breaching their human rights, The Daily Mail reported yesterday.
This is the latest move by the UK’s coalition government to persuade foreign convicts to serve their sentences at home.
It was revealed that a project is currently on going in Nigeria which supports the provision of “human rights training for prison officers” while another project will construct new facilities at a women’s prison in Lagos, to reduce overcrowding.
The report also claimed that funds are currently being spent in Jamaica to “assist Jamaican authorities in modernising their prison service and rehabilitation and reintegration activities.”
Jamaica tops the list of the nations with most prisoners in British jails, with 900 inmates, followed by Poland-750, Republic of Ireland-737 and Nigeria, with 594 inmates.
“Ministers have resorted to the tactic – designed to satisfy the human rights of inmates – after it emerged that the UK’s own prison system has turned into a ‘United Nations of crime” the British Tabloid reported on its website.
Research by the House of Commons library reveals how British jails contain inmates from 156 countries and the total number of foreign prisoners is rising despite pledges by the Prime Minister, David Cameron to address the issue.
It is estimated that by March 2012, there were 11,127 foreign inmates behind bars, at an estimated cost to the UK public purse of more than £420million. This is up from 10,778 in 2011.
The convicts, which includes rapists, murderers and burglars, now makes up more than one in every eight convicts. The figures were disclosed as the British Prime Minister faced more criticism on Wednesday over his foreign aid commitments.
Mr. Cameron was taking part in a radio phone-in when a pensioner called to tell him it was wrong that she was denied a cancer drug while billions were spent on overseas aid.
Meanwhile, it emerged that the dire need to create space in the packed jails has prompted ministers to take the extraordinary step of establishing a £3million annual pot to make it easier for convicts to serve their sentences back home.
The Mail argues that “splashing money on prisons abroad is certain to prove controversial.” But officials insist it will be cheaper in the long run than the annual £38,000 bill for keeping a single prisoner locked up.
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in preparation for their arrival, FGN should get a BIG farm land, camp them and let them be optimally used.594 people is not a small worker! Since they decided to disgrace us over there, we should not just bring them home to consume tax payers money. Good morning my fellow country people.
ReplyDeleteI am in support of ur suggestion but I know d Nigerian government will not do that. Instead, they will prefer to thrown then in jail and allow their energy to rot away. God bless u.
DeleteI pray Almighty God deliver Nigeria from bad leadership that is shaming our great nation.
ReplyDeleteAh ah!! We can't even get gold with the highest number of inmates in UK jails! Nonsense, we have come forth, not even bronze! Ok sha, we will have to give up on trying to get a medal in this UK olympics season
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