The Enugu State government has commended the federal government for approving the relocation of the Enugu Correctional Centre located at the GRA, saying it is ready to partner with the central government to actualise the move. 

The assurances were given by the governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in his office at the Government House, on Wednesday.

The governor told the team led by the committee chairman, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, that the state government had always advocated for the relocation of the facility, which was built in 1915, from the city centre to a more suitable location.

He said, “It is highly commendable that the federal government has sanctioned the relocation of Enugu Correctional Centre. This is something we have been advocating for. So, I think you have a real partner in the state government, as we have a coincidence of objectives. So, we are going to anxiously be waiting to hear from you on how you want us to engage.

“We already have a survey, which we have done and we are more than happy to share the survey of the new location with you and we will take you to that location to see for yourselves,” Mbah said.

He called for the automation of the justice-dispensing system to reduce the congestion of the correctional centres, highlighting the efforts of his administration to automate the justice system.

In his remarks, Hon. Ogah commended Governor Mbah on improved security of lives and property in the state, stressing that, “People can now drive through Enugu State at any time of the day without any fear.”

He added that the state government’s investment in security technology and effort of the correctional officers and security had ensured there was no jailbreak in Enugu State, and lauded the development strides of the governor, which he said were providing jobs, boosting economic development, and diminishing crimes.