Nigeria will only succeed when we support the President – Fubara

• Published On: 15 July 2024 at 20:12

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has stated that Nigeria can only prosper if its residents support the President and that "if Nigeria fails, everyone fails." Sub-national governments, such as Rivers State, and any other state, will likewise fail.

This comes as he calls for the prompt investigation of individuals detained for crimes and the unhindered process of legal procedures to guarantee that they are not unfairly placed on the awaiting trial list and end up in correctional facilities.

This, he added, will increase the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force and the Judiciary to rise to the task of ensuring that their institutions actually work properly in order to achieve the desired outcomes of decongesting jail facilities and administering justice.

Fubara argued that such an approach would help to significantly reduce the number of overcrowded correctional facilities across the country with awaiting trial convicts, as well as the financial burden associated with their upkeep.


The charge was given by the governor to the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, chaired by its Chairman, Chinedu Ogah, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt Monday.

Nelson Chukwudi, the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, released a statement to the media.

The Governor stated, "I know that the State Government, through the Chief Judge, has visited the Correctional Centres from time to time, and after evaluation, and I have seen a few letters he has written about what he saw on his visit, and having confirmed and accessed a few of the inmates, he has granted them either bail or pardon.


"But this issue revolves around two important institutions: the police force and the judiciary. Most of the difficulties we're discussing, such as overcrowding in correctional facilities, could be attributed to delays in the trial of their cases. That's the truth.

"The second element is that you mistakenly arrest someone, and the investigation takes two, three, or four years. So we must ensure that our institutions are working properly. If they are operating properly, I am confident that most of the problems associated with overcrowding in correctional facilities will be resolved."

Fubara continued, "But this is where we are, and we will continue to push our system to do better. Maybe if we had filed these concerns sooner, some of the corrections might have been made.



"So, now that we are saying it, I believe they are hearing, and they will expedite action to make sure that some of these things are put to check."

The governor stated that his administration is focused on the needs of Rivers residents, while also acknowledging the significance of properly integrating ex-convicts into society.

Fubara, on the other hand, warned, "We must also ensure that adequate reviews are conducted to ensure that we do not damage our people.


"It is not enough to simply say we need to reintegrate them. We also need to do the right thing to ensure that when they leave the centres, they can integrate into society.

"I believe vocational activity take place in correctional facilities. Some of them have the possibility to operate academic programs online.

"So, first of all, they should also show this commitment that they want to change, that they want to be part of the system, coming back to the society, and we as a government, will do all we can make it possible."

The Governor expressed his joy that issues concerning correctional facilities had piqued the National Assembly's interest, indicating that the administration is alive and responsible.

Fubara also welcomed committee members for their visit and praised his administration's modest successes thus far, notably in terms of reducing crime in the State compared to what was inherited.

He stated, "It simply means that we know what the problem is and are addressing it from the fundamental cause.

"What is the problem with crime? Unemployment and instability. This insecurity is economic insecurity, which is what drives crime.


Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly prevents Fubara from spending
"It is a global issue, though but as a State, we will continue to do our best to see to it that our youths are engaged meaningfully, and are discouraged from associating with anything that will bring a bad image to our State."

Fubara stated that his administration has continued to provide the Controller of the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre with a monthly subvention to help with the day-to-day operations of his office, as well as various levels of assistance.

The Governor observed that the majority of correctional facilities were established more than 80 years ago, when no one expected the number of offenders to skyrocket as it has.

However, he stated that the Federal Government's efforts in the state, such as the construction of new inmate housing facilities and the intention to relocate correctional facilities in the city center, should be supported.

"I will mandate the Secretary to the State Government to go and access what is going on there, and liaise with the appropriate authorities and see where we can come in to complete it so that this issue of having these Correctional Centres in the centre of the city which is not a good idea, at least, we can solve that problem once and for all."

Fubara challenged the committee with doing its part effectively by enacting the necessary laws and getting parliamentary support to eventually fix the flaws that have been identified.

He emphasized, "It should not be something we simply have in our Constitution. It should be granted complete authority over the implementation or execution of these laws. So, you should assist us do it well, and we will take care of the execution, which is the Executive's responsibility."


Fubara went on to say, "I'd like to thank you for coming to meet us. Let me assure you, on behalf of the Rivers State government and people, that you have made no mistakes.

"You did the right thing and took the correct action. I believe that by the end of your tour, you will have made recommendations to help us overcome some of these challenges.

"Overall, we must all work together to support our President's administration. Nigeria is a large and complicated culture with various philosophies, multicultural values, and social divisions, but we are all united by the Nigerian flag.

"So, what we need to do is ensure that we work together, on one common interest, in order to perpetuate this entity known as Nigeria. If Nigeria succeeds, we will all succeed. And Nigeria can only succeed if we support the President.

"If Nigeria fails, everyone fails." Sub-national entities, such as Rivers State, and any other state, will likewise fail. You cannot succeed alone as a state. "Your success must be extended to the center," he said.

In his remarks, the delegation's leader and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, said that they are in Rivers State to oversee all correctional institutions in the state.

Ogah criticized the country's Correctional Service for being grossly neglected, particularly in terms of security.


He identified four Correctional Service Centres in Rivers State: Port Harcourt, Ahoada, Degema, and the Farm Settlement, each housing approximately 4,000 convicts, with 91% of those detainees awaiting trial.

Ogah stated, "And the majority of these people have not yet been convicted, and some of them are not being justified: this is what the case is about. The main issue, the security's incompetence, is that they don't care how to reintegrate, rehabilitate, and bring them back into society so they can't commit crimes.

"If we look into it, we discover that the only way we can ensure the security of lives and property in this country is to ensure that those we believe have already committed crimes are reformed and reintegrated into society by providing them with skills and opportunities so that they can feed themselves and not return to crime.

"And Your Excellency, according to our records, since you took office, the crime rate in Rivers State has decreased as a result of what you have done by economically empowering youths in all local governments and wards, as well as giving them a sense of belonging. We have to compliment you on that."

Ogah went on to say, "Rivers State is one of the sites where the development of 3,000-capacity centers is happening in Bori, and the work has reached 60 percent.

"But Your Excellency, you know the truth: Federal Government cannot do it alone, and as a Governor who knows the problems of the people, that is our essence of coming to you to partner with the Committee on Reformatory Institutions to know what we can do together to relocate that correctional service centre."

As a result, he requested the State Government's assistance in ensuring that the Federal Government's initiative for the peace and prosperity of Rivers State and Nigeria is successful.