In a move to tackle prison overcrowding and improve inmate rehabilitation, the Lagos State House of Assembly has begun work on a new bill to set up its own correctional facility.
The proposal comes after the 2023 constitutional amendment that gave states the power to manage correctional services. With this legal backing, Lagos lawmakers are looking to create a more modern and humane justice system.
During its recent sitting, the House introduced the Lagos State Correctional Service Bill, which seeks to shift the focus of incarceration from punishment to reform. Lawmakers believe this centre will offer inmates skills training, mental health support, and better living conditions to help them reintegrate into society.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said the initiative is part of a larger effort to make the justice system more effective and community-oriented.
Other members of the Assembly also threw their support behind the bill, calling it timely and necessary. They noted that the facility will include modern surveillance systems, space for juveniles, and strict hygiene standards. The emphasis, they said, will be on second chances and not just confinement.
The bill has been sent to the Judiciary and Human Rights Committee for review, with a report expected in three weeks.