NIGERIA: PRISON CONDITIONS IN MAKURDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001739 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PRISON CONDITIONS IN MAKURDI ABUJA 00001739 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Gribbin for reasons 1.4.(b&d). ¶1. SUMMARY. Overcrowding, poor conditions, lack of transportation and inadequate materials for reform programs are just a few of the issues the Benue State Prison System is facing. During an August 7-8 trip to Benue State, PolOff visited Makurdi Prison and met with Controller of Prisons, O.Y. Musa and Speaker of the State Assembly, Terseer Tsumba, to discuss the problems and possible solutions. Tsumba's promises of assistance in reconstructing a damaged prison and the construction of a new health clinic on the grounds of Makurdi Prison could be signs of a new commitment to prison reform in the state. END SUMMARY. -------------- OVERCROWDING AND POOR CONDITIONS -------------- ¶2. There are three prisons in Benue State: Gboko, Makurdi and Otukpo. Gboko is the largest with a capacity of 809. Unfortunately, Gboko is also the oldest and experienced major structural damage when a perimeter wall collapsed forcing all male inmates to be relocated to Makurdi (leaving approximately 141 female prisoners at Gboko). Makurdi only has capacity for 214 people and is currently housing over 450 inmates due to the incident at Gboko. Makurdi is composed of three cell blocks, two of which are reserved for those still awaiting trial, which is a majority of those incarcerated. (COMMENT: With only 705 prisoners in the state, Gboko alone (if renovated) could sufficiently house the current population. END COMMENT.) ¶3. PolOff was only allowed to visit Block B at Makurdi Prison. The cell block is a single large room with one wall comprised only of bars open to the elements and packed wall to wall with half dressed men. There were no signs of any bedding and the Prison Supervisor told PolOff they were lacking an adequate supply of mattresses. Due to the spontaneous nature of the visit and the fact that members of the local press were nearby, PolOff was not given full access to the facilities during this visit, but rather PolOff believes she was shown only the least negligent areas. This included the kitchen area where a few inmates were keeping busy supposedly "cooking," though no food was observed. Musa would not grant access for PolOff to speak directly with any of the prisoners during this visit; but stated that he would accommodate those arrangements during a future visit. -------------- SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT? -------------- ¶4. The one potentially encouraging part of the prison is the newly built health clinic. Not yet complete and still lacking equipment, it is a free standing building designed to be a modern hospital complete with an operating room and laboratory. Unfortunately, Musa informed PolOff that they are awaiting resources to buy equipment, staff the clinic and purchase necessary pharmaceuticals. Musa stated that there was a doctor and nurse already on staff, but they were not present and there was no sign of them in the rudimentary Health Unit room currently being used as an infirmary. -------------- REBUILDING MAKURDI -------------- ¶5. While discussing the overcrowding at Makurdi, Musa stated that if the Gboko prison structural damage could be fixed, the resultant influx of inmates could be returned and the capacity issue resolved. Musa told PolOff that work had begun to repair the perimeter wall several months ago, but the contractor refuses to continue due to lack of payment. Speaker Tsumba, feeling obligated to act, promised to look into the reason for delay of payment. Furthermore, Tsumba promised to expedite the payment as long as there were no outstanding issues with the contractor. Tsumba assured PolOff the situation would be resolved by year's end and the overcrowding eliminated. -------------- ABUJA 00001739 002.2 OF 002 DELAY IN JUSTICE -------------- ¶6. Also adding to the overcrowding problem in Benue is the delay in getting detainees to trial. Over half the men incarcerated at Makurdi have yet to be convicted of any crimes. Lack of judges and court venues on the local level is one reason for this according to Tsumba - something he has promised to address during his tenure. Another reason for the delays is lack of transportation. According to Musa, they do not have enough vehicles to transport prisoners to their trials even when they do get scheduled. (NOTE: The prisoners who have been relocated from Gboko are required to travel a long distance back to their Local Government Court for trial.) -------------- LACK OF REFORM ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶7. Controller Musa stated that the prisoner reform program offered at Makurdi was yet another area that needed improvement. Makurdi Prison currently offers prisoners the opportunity to learn a trade such as carpentry, welding, sewing or electronics repair while in prison so that they have a career option after prison. The two drawbacks, both of which require a remedy at the federal level, are that only prisoners actually convicted of non-violent crimes are eligible (not those awaiting trial) and the inadequate supply of training materials, both of which limit the number of prisoners able to participate. Currently, there are only five sewing machines and enough equipment to train three people in either welding or electronics repair. Musa also suggested that being able to provide materials or equipment to prisoners upon release would be a great asset in ensuring their reform. Musa said that if the men have a viable option to make a living after prison then they are less likely to commit a crime again. -------------- REFORMS NECESSARY AT ALL LEVELS -------------- ¶8. COMMENT: If Speaker Tsumba keeps his promise to assist with the problems at Gboko, there is a good chance that the overcrowding situation at Makurdi Prison could be resolved. This does not address the living conditions however and additional visits should be arranged to monitor the progress. As Controller Musa stated, the delay in the judicial process is a huge source of aggravation for the prison system. This is an issue that Nigeria is facing at all levels of government and one that needs to be addressed in order to truly move forward on the rule of law and protection of human rights. Although Speaker Tsumba seemed somewhat pressured into saying something in response to problems at Gboko, PolOff was impressed with his willingness to make promises of assistance to prison reform rather than excuses. PolOff will monitor the situation to see if the Speaker keeps those promises. END COMMENT. GRIBBIN