UK government to build N350m prison in Lagos

Per Second NewsMarch 8, 20181 Mins read920

The UK is to build a £700,000 (N350M) jail in Nigeria so it can deport Nigerian criminals and free up places in British jails.

“As part of this agreement, eligible prisoners serving criminal sentences in Nigeria and the UK can be returned to complete their sentences in their respective countries,” said Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

The new facility a “UN-compliant” 112-bed wing will be constructed at the maximum security Kiri Kiri prison in Lagos

There were 270 Nigerian prisoners out of a total of 9,349 foreign nationals in UK jails at the end of 2017, according to reports in the UK.

“The Government believes that wherever possible foreign nationals should serve their sentences in their own country,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

“Helping Nigeria to improve its prison conditions and increase prison capacity will enable us to transfer more prisoners to Nigeria, which will in turn free up prison places in the UK.”

The new wing is being paid for using the CSSF (Conflict, Stability and Security Fund) migration returns fund, said Mr Johnson.

“Tenders have been placed and a supplier identified to conduct the building work, alongside project support and monitoring and evaluation, bringing the total cost to £695,525,” he added.