By SAM Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

THIRTY-ONE female prisoners and 142 ladies awaiting trial who are squeezed into the 105-capacity Kirikiri Female Prisons had every reason to be excited last Saturday when a modern multi-purpose hall built by Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church for the comfort of the inmates was commissioned.

The inmates led by Lady Susan sang soul-searching songs of transformation and genuine repentance, thanks to the untiring efforts of people like Labongini, Nollywood star, Stella Demasus and of course Bishop Chioma Grace Dauji, founder/president of Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church.

Lady Susan who had served about six years in the Female Prisons obviously wields a lot of influence  as she commands the respect of the inmates. Wearing black trousers and dark blue and yellow T-shirts supplied by the church, members of the Virtuous Ladies Choral Group heartily danced to music supplied by the church choir, while using the occasion to display hand woven berets, caps, bags, table covers and even dresses made by the inmates.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity for the inmates and their handlers to appeal to governments at different levels, good natured Nigerians as well as the law enforcement agents to come to the aid of the inmates, some of whom have spent several months for minor offences without trial.

Right from her opening address, the deputy controller in charge of Female Prisons, Mrs. Folashade Akinwale, who incidentally was marking her 51st birthday last Saturday said over the years facilities at the prisons get older and insufficient for the ever increasing number of inmates.

“This is why Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church obtained permission to build this multi-purpose hall for the comfort of inmates,” she explained, calling on the Lagos State Government, public spirited Nigerians and groups to assist as may be required. “I believe that the prison is a place of correction, not of condemnation,” she pointed out “so, we should all contribute to uplift the facilities for the inmates.”

While urging Nigerians to invest in the prisons so that the reformation work on the inmates can be total, Mrs. Akinwale said: “Behind those walls are great minds who can be eminent citizens in the society.” She added that there are 50 courts in Lagos but there are not enough vehicles to convey the inmates to courts, not forgetting to mention the perennial problem of under-aged girls who are often brought in.

Also speaking, Bishop Dauji said her ministry was particularly challenged by the closeness of the existing chapel in the female prison to the kitchen. “When we come to minister, it was always difficult even for us because of the smoke,” she explained, adding “standing in the gap does not stop with the preaching of the gospel. It also entails helping the needy in the society.”

Continuing, Bishop Dauji emphasized that the inmates were not in the prisons because they desire to be there, “the government knows why they were brought in and those of us who are walking free must do everything we can to alleviate the pains and anguish of those who are being reformed here.”

Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Opeibi commended the donor for the demonstration of love, adding that irrespective of the doctrines one preaches it is nought until one identifies with the pains of others.

According to the deputy governor, the gesture is a practical demonstration of the bishop’s compassion for the womenfolk, it also shows that private initiatives are recognising the need to assist government in the area of provision of amenities for the people. “We are not helping society if we harbour the belief that the inmates are never do wells in the society,” she stated, “they should be encouraged and integrated back to the society after their terms in prison in order for them to become useful members of the society.”

Explaining that the state governmernt has taken giant strides in its reforms of the judicial system to ensure that there is no undue delay in the dispensation of justice in the state and the assurance of safety of lives and property, “there is still a lot of grounds to cover which is why we seek all partners to help us achieve our desired goals for Lagosians. Security is top in our agenda,” the deputy governor stated, pointing out that children of inmates also deserve to be catered for.

The deputy governor therefore appealed to the inmates to use the facilities well so as to encourage the donors and others to do more, promising to take a close look at the request made by the deputy controller.