Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the release of 150 inmates in the maximum Correctional Centre in Kano.

The release, according to the Minister was part of President Tinubu’s renewed hope mantra tailored towards decongesting the correctional centres nationwide.

The Minister represented by the Assistant Director, Dr Anayo Romanus-Nzekwe, in Kano said the released 150 inmates were part of 4,068 inmates projected for release nationwide. He said those considered were inmates who have fines and compensation not exceeding N1 million.

He explained that the Federal Government’s intension to decongest Custodial Centres aimed to make room for proper reformation and rehabilitation of offenders across the country.

The released inmates were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with the option of fine and compensation cannot afford to pay their fines and are languishing in custody.

“The sum of N13.4 million was spent in Kano state out of N585 million raised by philanthropic individuals, groups and corporate bodies, as part of their corporate social responsibility, for this purpose nationwide.’’

“We have given the inmates requisite training aimed at impacting their lives functionally and equipping them with the knowledge for their self-reliance upon discharge. They were given N10,000 each to enable them to return to their various homes and villages,” The minister said.

Tunji-Ojo called on the public, communities to receive the returning inmates with open arms and refrain from stigmatising them as it could drive them back to committing offence, which would further endanger the society. He implore the inmates to see the initiative as a second chance to make things right again.

The Controller General of Corrections, Mr Halliru Nababa, commended the Minister of Interior for securing the release of 150 inmates sentenced with options of fine by various courts in Kano State.

The CG represented by the Controller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Suleiman Inuwa, said the “fine paid and compensation” has already made a significant impact on the lives of numerous inmates across the country.

He urged the inmates not to return to crime and criminality and to make judicious use of the transport fare given to them to start a small business that would help them earn a living.