The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, on Tuesday, granted amnesty to 30 inmates at the old and new Correctional Centres in the state capital, Minna.

The gesture was part of the activities to mark the first anniversary of his administration.

The wife of the governor, Fatima Bago, on her part, visited the Niger State Orphanage Home, assuring the children of the government’s commitment to their well-being.

On behalf of the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, visited correctional centres in the state, granting amnesty to 30 inmates.

He announced the payment of fines for the inmates and presented malaria drugs and food items, including bags of rice, beans, and maize, among others, to the officials of the centres, to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on the inmates.

According to the governor, the essence of the visits and donations was 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 penciled down for clemency. We consider those whose cases were minor and their fines would be paid. He (the governor) had recently also approved the payment of fines for 100 inmates and that has been done. We also brought food, drugs and other items,” the SSG said during the visit.

He promised that the freed inmates would also be empowered with skills in agriculture and other entrepreneurship to make them productive members of society.

The governor’s wife during her visit to the orphanage said that her husband’s government had great plans for the children.

She said the children were 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 Affairs will work with the management of the orphanage to repair the damaged parts of the orphanage,” she said.

Punch