IMo State — The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed on Monday that there are currently no operational remand homes in Imo State. This revelation has raised serious concerns among residents and child welfare advocates across the state.
Mr. Goodluck Uboegbulam, Public Relations Officer for NCoS and Chief Superintendent of Corrections, told reporters that the Nigeria Correctional Service does not manage any remand homes in Imo as none exist at present. He further explained that a remand home which previously existed in the state was not under NCoS management but was instead overseen by the state government.
According to Uboegbulam, the remand home formerly located in Logara, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, has become moribund and is no longer functional.
The absence of these facilities has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters within the state. Residents described the situation as regrettable and emphasized the urgent need for government intervention.
Mr. Friday Onyekachi, a sociologist, expressed concern that without remand homes, juvenile offenders are deprived of their fundamental rights to health, nutrition, education, and recreation. He called on authorities to urgently fund and rehabilitate these facilities to properly care for young offenders.
Meanwhile, Mr. Modestus Anunwa, a social commentator and communications expert, highlighted the link between the lack of remand homes and rising truancy rates. He pointed out that many underage children without proper foster care now roam the streets of Douglas and Lobi in Owerri. Anunwa warned that if this issue remains unaddressed, these homeless street children could become the next generation involved in criminal activities.
Mrs. Nkechinyere Udoka, a social welfare officer, reflected on the poor conditions when remand homes last operated in the state. She noted that overcrowding, malnutrition, inadequate healthcare, and lack of educational and vocational programs characterized those centers, which undermined their rehabilitative purpose and made them more akin to punitive detention facilities. Mrs. Udoka lamented the government’s failure to restore or improve the homes, emphasizing the need for humane treatment and meaningful rehabilitation activities for juveniles.
Child psychologist Mr. Henry Ukachukwu also condemned the absence of remand homes and called on the Imo State government to fulfill its responsibility in protecting the welfare of vulnerable children.
The growing concerns underscore the urgent need for concerted action from the state government to restore remand homes and ensure the proper care, rehabilitation, and reintegration of juvenile offenders in Imo State.