Investigation into Kuje prison break completed – Aregbesola

The Federal Government has concluded investigations into the attack on Kuje Correctional Center, in which 600 inmates escaped.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the fourth edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard 2015–2023 Series, organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Aregbesola, however, said that details of the investigation would not be made public, "as it is still a security document."

The minister said some of the escapees had been recaptured and returned to the center, while efforts were being made to arrest other escapees.

According to him, the greatest legacy of the Buhari administration was the degradation of insurgents and the retaking of areas hitherto under their control.

"In 2015, the insurgents were holding territories in some local governments in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.

"But as we speak, they have been dislodged." "Yes, there are challenges here and there, but there is no nation without challenges," he added.

Aregbesola assured that the challenges being encountered in the issuance of passports were being addressed.

"We don't have enough processing and data-capture centers across the country." This is the major challenge.

"For example, we have only three centers in the whole of Lagos, but I can assure you that before this administration leaves on May 29, next year, Lagos will have 20 processing centers.

"We will open processing centers in Daura,Oyo, Zaria, Alimosho, Defense Headquarters, the Head of Service Office, and one in the Ministry of Interior," the minister said.

On the protection of the nation's critical assets, he commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for the wonderful job they have been doing.

Aregbesola said that the NSCDC has performed creditably well in the monitoring and deployment of security before, during, and after the conduct of every general election in the country.

"The service has also been involved in the protection of lives and property of Nigerians especially along the major expressways across the country.

"The NSCDC has also succeeded in establishing and training a special squad, popularly called "agro rangers," whose responsibilities are to monitor and give protection to farmers in their various farms across the country," he said.

Aregbesola said that the Federal Government has established fire service centers in the 36 states as well as zonal offices.

The minister added that the fire service had organized outreach programs in the FCT on how to manage fire outbreaks and their impacts on lives and property.

"The service has succeeded in managing about 10 fire outbreaks across the country that would have ordinarily resulted in serious casualties," Aregbesola added.

This feat, he said, was achieved through the unflinching support of President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the procurement of world-class fire equipment and the recruitment of firemen.

The minister assured that the ministry remained committed to tackling any threat to the nation's internal security.