Niger frees 30 inmates to mark first anniversary
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has set free 30 inmates in the old and new Correctional Centres in the state capital, Minna to mark his first year in office.
Bago, represented by the Secretary to State Government, Abubakar Usman announced the payment of fines for the 30 inmates during a visit to both centres as part of activities to mark his one year in office on Tuesday.
Usman also presented malaria drugs and food items to the officials of the centres, to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on the inmates.
He said the visits and donations were made to allow the inmates to feel a sense of belonging while calling on the freed inmates to return to society and be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large.
“Thirty people have been pencilled down for clemency. We consider those whose cases were minor and their fines would be paid. He had recently also approved payment of fines for 100 inmates and that had been done. We also brought food, drugs and other items.” He said.
Bago assured that the freed inmates would also be empowered with skills in agriculture and other entrepreneurship to make them productive members of the society.
The governor’s wife, Fatima Bago also marked the anniversary with orphans at the state Orphanage Home, noting that her husband’s government has great plans for the children.
She said the children are being included in policies and programmes which would be unveiled in the coming months.
“This is just the beginning. We have not started anything serious yet. We have so many plans for the children and they will be included in our plans for a new Niger. Better days are ahead for the children of Niger State. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs will work with the management of the orphanage to repair the damaged parts of the orphanage,” she said.
