Coronavirus: Rep calls for release of inmates, conversion of prisons to isolation centres

A member of the House of Representatives has called on the government of Nigeria to set inmates free and convert prisons to isolation/quarantine centres for patients who have tested positive for the Corona Virus.

House of Representatives member, Rep. Chukwuma Umeoji, called on the government of Nigeria, to free inmates of correctional centres across the country so that prisons can be converted to quarantine centres for patients who have Coronavirus.

Umeoji who represents Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra State, made the call in a press statement to help avoid a possible rapid spread of the pandemic.

He also advised the government to put safeguards in place to ensure their return to custody after the pandemic is contained.

His words:

“The impact of the virus, will be worse on large number of people in an enclosure. Nigerian prisons are overcrowded and notorious for poor hygiene standards. The spread of the virus under such environment, will be rapid and deadly.

“As a matter of urgency, the Government should carry out proper documentation of prisoners to ensure their return to prison after the end of the epidemic”.