In order to guarantee that children detained for minor infractions are not housed in the same cells as infamous criminals, the Nigerian Bar Association, or NBA, Umuahia branch, has called for the construction of foster homes in the state.
In Umuahia, the NBA made the plea at a forum for citizens’ engagement that the Abia State Government arranged in advance of the 2026 Abia budget.
Emmanuel Okonkwo, the assistant secretary of the NBA’s Umuahia branch, presented his case and urged the Abia State Government to fund the construction of foster homes in 2026.
He warned that placing young people in the same detention facility as seasoned criminals could lead to a situation where the infamous people the children interact with in their cells encourage them to commit more crimes.
Speaking earlier, Ladu N. Martins, the NBA’s Umuahia branch secretary, expressed regret that the local court was impacted by the Ikwuano LGA fire disaster, forcing those with cases to have their cases handled elsewhere.
The NBA Secretary, however, was pleased that the current Abia State Government had renovated the High Court in Okeikpe, Ukwa West LGA, which had been moved to Aba due to deterioration, and was now back in Ukwa.
According to Martins, the fact that people used to travel all the way to Aba to attend their cases that were filed in the Okeikpe High Court hindered the efficient administration of justice.
Free legal services for women, children, and other underprivileged Abia residents should also be funded in the 2026 budget, according to Ogbonna Priscilla, Executive Director of Initiative for Care Support to the Less Privileged (ICASULP).
The purpose of the citizens’ engagement, according to Kingsley Anosike, commissioner for budget and economic planning, was to collect and take into account the needs of the Abia people for the 2026 budget.
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