Speaking at the National Constitutional Dialogue held in honor of the late constitutional scholar Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Aregbesola emphasized the need for change on Monday, March 18.

Highlighting the unity forged by production among Nigerians, the former Osun State governor advocates for a governmental structure that aligns more closely with the nation’s strengths and aspirations.

Aregbesola said in part: “We are united more through production.

“So in seeking appropriate democratic representation, let us look at production as a basis of representation. That’s my first submission.

“Can Nigeria survive the executive presidential system?

“My answer is Capital NO! Let us agree on Parliamentary System.”

Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the minister said this while inaugurating a 20-bed COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund Hospital and Equipment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port Harcourt.

The minister said that the project would be an enduring legacy and a testimony of the utmost importance the Federal Government had so far taken corrections, the welfare of inmates as well as the staff.

Aregbesola added that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had, to a large extent, addressed the problem of inmates contracting diseases in custodial centres.

“The custodial centres were frighteningly centres for contracting diseases like scabies and tuberculosis, among others.

“Happily, this has been addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and is now a thing of the past.

We not only have well-manned clinics and well-stocked pharmacies, the inmates at the custodial centres now have access to excellent medical care beyond the centres,” he said.

The minister also decried the enormous challenges of running correctional services with huge demands for infrastructure, equipment and maintaining the welfare of inmates.

He, however, assured that the Federal Government had provided a long-term solution to the challenges.

“This centre in Port Harcourt, with a capacity for 1,800 inmates, presently houses about 3,067 inmates. This is just a reflection of the situation in most urban custodial centres where we have congestion at the moment.

The facilities and even the personnel are overstretched, but we are coping and providing long-term solutions to this challenge.

“One of such solutions is the construction of mega 3,000-capacity custodial villages in six geo-political zones of the country. The one for the South-South is in Bori, not far from here in Rivers.

“The ones for the North-West in Janguza, Kano and the North-Central, in Karshi, Abuja, are ready. Hopefully, we shall inaugurate the one in Kano in a few days, before our departure.

Even work is steadily going on in the others and has reached appreciable level.

“Let me also reiterate that the Federal Government will stop feeding inmates incarcerated for breaching state laws. As you commence your budget process for next year, include feeding of your inmates,” he said..

Aregbesola said that he had no doubt that the facility would go a long way in addressing the medical concerns of inmates and correctional service personnel.

The minister commended the management and staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for working hard to keep the virus away.

He added that the new hospital was an intervention aimed at making robust healthcare for those in custody and the NCoS staff.

Aregbesola said that the beauty of all the interventions in consonance with other reforms in the NCoS would obviously translate to security, peace and tranquillity in and around the centres and ultimately the entire country.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration in Abuja.

Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Begore, on Wednesday, urged Christians to emulate the virtues of sacrifice, togetherness, forgiveness, kindness, love, peace and patience which were attributes and practices of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by His ministry on the earth.

The minister called on Christians and all Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration to pray for an end to the security challenges in parts of the country.

Aregbesola said “Security is everybody’s business. I, therefore, urge Nigerians and foreigners resident in our country to display a high sense of citizenship and public spiritedness by supporting the efforts of all security agencies in bringing peace and security of lives and property of the citizenry”.

The minister assured that the Federal Government is doing all that is necessary to ensure a peaceful transition of government following the peaceful conduct of elections.

While wishing Christians at home and in the Diaspora a happy and peaceful Easter celebration, he also enjoins them to love their neighbours through acts of kindness and generosity of spirit, with the well-to-do sharing their substance with the less privileged around them.

Aregbesola once more assures Nigerians that the nation is persistently on the path to greatness and urges all to positively deploy their creative energy for the full realisation of the coming prosperity.

The ministry listed the names on its website with the link shared on its official Twitter handle and retweeted by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday.

The Nigeria Immigration Service said over 148,000 passports were awaiting collection nationwide since 2020.

The NIS Public Relations Officer, Anthony Akuneme, also noted that the NIS could not reach the owners, some of who had incorrect contact details at the point of registration.

He revealed that the Comptroller-General, Isa Idris, had deployed a team of senior officers nationwide to reach the owners of the abandoned passports.

“If you find your name, proceed to the passport office to pick up yours,” the ministry said in the tweet.

He explained that insurgency in the Sahel region was one of the reasons Nigeria was reluctant to rectify the free movement protocol, adding that the country had introduced a visa-on-arrival policy to ease movement in the country.

The Minister assured the African Union of Nigeria’s willingness to work with the organisation to achieve free movement of people within West African countries.

A statement on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Afonja Ajibola, said Aregbesola gave the assurance while playing host to African Union delegations who paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.

The statement partly read, “The Minister wondered why humans should confine themselves in one place while other smaller creatures can freely move from one boundary to the next without hindrance.

“He stated that the delegations should be rest assured that he is a partner in the realisation of the protocol of free movement of persons, goods, and services across the sub-region. Aregbesola, on the other hand, stated that the bloody aftermath of insurgencies, which posed a major threat to the realisation of the free movement protocol, particularly in countries in the Sahel region, makes Nigeria hesitant to amend the protocol.

He added that the ousting of the Libyan leader brought about a security breach in Nigeria via the proliferation of arms, leading to full-blown insurgencies.

“Aregbesola said in furtherance of the realisation of free movement across the sub-region, the Nigerian government has introduced a visa-on-arrival policy to expedite movement.’’

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the Nigerian government’s hesitance to implement the protocol was largely due to insecurity, but he assured the team that consultation is ongoing with other stakeholders on actualising the free movement of persons and goods across the region.

Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Rita Amokhobu, stated that their visit is to inform the Minister of the outcome of their visit to the Benin-Seme border, which she said has accorded them the opportunity to gather information on how Nigeria complies with the treaty of the African Union on the free movement of persons and goods.

This was made known by the Minister’s Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, on Tuesday.

In exactly one month, Aregbesola stated he would meet with state governors to agree on the mass release of at least 30 per cent of convicts from correctional facilities across the country.

The minister said that the interface was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening various state laws, noting that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.

He said that the federal offenders in the system were far fewer than 10 per cent, adding that the bulk of people in custody were those who had run afoul of state laws.

Aregbesola said that they were therefore being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective states.

The minister added that the decongestion of the 253 custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

However, speaking on the action taken by the minister, Fasure said, “The minister has written to the Governors Forum, but he has not met with them because they will have to communicate with him and give him a date.

“He wrote to them with the request that he wants to meet with them, but he is yet to get a response. In other words, the meeting has not been held.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Tuesday revealed that over 12,000 inmates were released from various correctional centres across the country within the last six years in line with the policy of prison decongestion.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister  of Justice , Abubakar Malami, stated this to members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters during 2023 budget defence session with the committee .

Malami, who made the declaration in response to question from Senator Ajibola Basiru ( APC Osun Central ) , said the Federal Government was able to decongest prisons across the country through policy actions aside from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , meant for expeditious dispensation of Justice.

“When this government came on board in 2015, the problem of prison congestion was at the front burner of national discourse , which made President Muhammadu Buhari to set machineries in motion in different ways for required solution.

“One of such machineries set in motion was a presidential committee set up for prison decongestion which liaised with other stakeholders in the justice sector for way out  .

“Aside from the committee, Mr  President himself also wrote letters to the 36 states governors and Chief Judges of the states  for required visitations to prisons and exercise of prerogative of mercies from time to time .

‘In one of such visitations made by the Governor of Kano State , Abdullahi Ganduje  , about 500 inmates were granted pardon in one day, totality of which had led to release of over 12, 000 inmates across the country within the last six years .

“Special attention was given to awaiting trial persons  who constitute the bulk of the inmates across the various correctional centres in the country by taking Magistrates and Judges to the centres for on the spot dispensation of Justice .

Earlier in his remarks , the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central), said the 2023 budget estimates for the Federal Ministry of Justice and its agencies as contained in the Appropriation Bill submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari , is N71.291billion.

Statelessness is a situation in which a person is not recognised as a national of any state under the operation of its laws.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this while speaking during the event in Abuja, said statelessness violates the non-discriminatory provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He added that there was the need to urgently end statelessness as a stateless person constitutes.

“A stateless person without allegiance or commitment to a state remains a veritable security risk, especially when statelessness is caused by war, disputed territories, nomadic-pastoralist migration, foundlings etc.

Statelessness is an affront on personal dignity, liberty and human rights of affected persons. As such, no person should be allowed to pass through such a horrific situation. We should recognise that it is an unfortunate situation foisted on affected persons by circumstance. I assure you that we shall provide decisive, visionary and exemplary leadership to achieve zero-level stateless person status by 2024.”

He also said discriminatory provisions in the Constitution had been identified, adding that chapter III, Section 25 (1) (b) which states that “every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence either of whose parents or any whose grandparents is a Citizen of Nigeria by birth’’ Children of Naturalised Nigerians after their parents have acquired Nigerian citizenship are not Nigerian citizens by birth, has not profited from this constitutional provision of registration of their birth.

“I have submitted a memo to the President for the reinstatement of grant of Nigerian citizenship by confirmation to these categories of stateless persons in line with provision of Chapter III (2) (I) as administrative relief, pending amendment of relevant laws to clear any ambiguity. This will reduce existing situations as well as prevent new cases of childhood statelessness as it relates to children of naturalised Nigerians.

”Chapter III, Section 26 (1-2a) states: – subject to the provisions of this Section 28 of this Constitution, a person whom the provisions of this Section apply may be registered as a Citizens of Nigeria; any woman who is a or has been married to a Citizen of Nigeria,” the minister said.

Aregbesola, however, said to mitigate the effects of these discriminatory provisions, he had equally forwarded a proposal to the President for approval of the re-introduction of Temporary Resident Permit to these categories of persons as administrative relief to prevent statelessness.

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission .for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes to beat the incumbent governor who polled 375,027 votes in the keenly contested race.

Adeleke had won the Osun State elections in 2018 against Oyetola, but following a run-off, Oyetola was declared winner.

Before his electoral loss, Oyetola had in 2018 defeated Adeleke after a run-off, with the support of his predecessor, Aregbesola, and former Lagos state governor and now APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Shortly after winning the election, Oyetola, who was the Chief of Staff to Aregbesola for eight years, parted ways with the interior affairs minister and his loyalists. They alleged that the governor abandoned his predecessor’s programmes.

In the Channels Television interview published on Tuesday, Adeleke noted that he was delighted when he heard that there was a fallout between Oyetola and Aregbesola.

“These were the people that colluded that time. They were together. Kolapo Alimi (Aregbesola’s ex-associate) told me the truth. They robbed me. Even the president said it when he came over here; that they won the (2018) election through remote control,” Adeleke said.

He added, “They fell out, and that was towards my own advantage. It has paved the way for me to victory too.”

Tweeps, who had earlier welcomed Oyetola’s defeat, had noted that the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, was next to be defeated.

The Chairman of the faction, The Osun Progressives,    Mr Lowo Adebiyi, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo, however, said Aregbesola’s faction would vote for the APC on Saturday.

At the state APC governorship primary in February,  Aregbesola’s faction  supported  Moshood Adeoti, who was the Secretary to the State Government when the minister was the  governor of  the state.

After Oyetola was declared winner of the primary, Adeoti  headed for the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is challenging the  governor’s eligibility to contest the primary, while still serving as  a member of  the National Caretaker Committee of the party

The court is expected to give its judgment on the suit on Thursday (today). Adebiyi expressed hope that Adeoti would win the  case on Thursday.

He said, “We have a court judgment coming up tomorrow (Thursday) by the grace of God and we are going to win that case for Alhaji Moshood Adeoti to represent the APC (at the governorship poll). We are going to vote for APC on Saturday. We are in the party.”

Asked if the group has been canvassing  votes, Adebiyi said, “We are doing our best but we are not mobilised. The governor’s side refuses to mobilise us, but we have told our people to vote for APC.

The APC will win by the grace of God and the support of the people. We are all concerned. We cannot be in the APC and vote for another party.”

But when contacted, the Media Adviser to the Osun  State APC Chairman, Kola Olabisi, said there was no merit in the case instituted against Oyetola by Aregbesola’s faction.

He said, “Ideally no one is expected to comment on any issue before the court of law. We know that there is nothing in that case that will merit Adeoti and his people to be celebrating. We expect the court to say that Adeoti and his people have no case.

“So, the truth will prevail tomorrow and we are confident that Oyetola will carry the day”

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, and the governorship candidate of the party for Osun State,  Mr Lasun Yusuff, on Wednesday berated the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu, over his comment at his party’s rally on Tuesday.

Tinubu at the grand rally for the re-election of  Oyetola on Tuesday,  said, “They said some are in Labour (Party). They will remain labourers till death.”

Obi, who was in Osogb to support  Yusuff at the governorship rally organised by the party, while addressing the LP members, advised them that such a comment should be returned with love.

In a statement released, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who announced this, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

“I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment” Aregbesola said

The Minister assured that the administration of President Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools” he added.

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies with the use of N-Alerts application that has been designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies: as soon as you “See Something Do N-Alerts”, most especially during this festival

He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities. “We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival” he said.

Aregbesola craves the indulgence of every Nigerians to come together, put our heads, hearts and all we have together, in order to achieve relative peace for harmonious coexistence and put an end to insecurities in Nigeria, he reiterated.

The Minister assured all Nigerians of the government’s protection of all under the law, maintenance of law and order and keeping the peace in all situations.