The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated bed bunks, matrasses, blankets, mosquito nets and branded mats to inmates in Borno State prisons.
The donation, according to the state coordinator of NEDC, Mohammed Umar, followed a request for intervention from the commission by the state command of the Correctional Services during a visit to NEDC some months ago.
Umar who presented the items to the comptroller, Correctional Services, Borno State Command , Yau Ibrahim , said following the approval of the intervention by the MD/CEO of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, and his management team, he was delivering the items which comprised of 200 bed bunks with matrasses numbering 400 units to the inmates.
The coordinator said the commission was giving 200 matrasses to accommodate the number of bed bunks on ground; 200 mosquito nets, 200 branded mats, 200 blankets and the bunks bringing the items to five categories.
“Our believe is that this intervention will go a long way in reducing the hardship of inmates in Borno prisons. The last time we had a visit there, there were deficiency of beddings hence we are intervening.
” So this intervention is apt. We hope it is going to be used for the purpose intended, ” Umar said.
Receiving the items for the inmates, the Comptroller of Borno Correctional Services, Yau Ibrahim, appreciated NEDC for the intervention recalling that the Commission two months ago installed streetlights in the Command.
Ibrahim noted that the Nigeria prisons accommodate vulnerable persons among them , men and women including sick people, saying that anybody that is in prison is a needy.
He said government cannot cater for their needs alone, hence the Command is collaborating with NEDC and calling on non governmental organisations ( NGOs ) , as well as well to do individuals to assist the inmates.
” We are battling with how to feed the inmates. We are battling with how to take care of them. We are pleading with NGOs , well to do individuals to come to the aid of the inmates,” Comptroller Ibrahim said.
