The Nigerian government says its strategic approach to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted positively on the lives of some inmates in correctional centers.

Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola spoke on Monday at the Third Annual Lecture on Economy and Security at the Faculty of Arts, Ekiti State University.

He said the Ministries of Interior and Justice secured presidential pardon for selected prisoners and also recommended others to state governments for release.

Aregbesola disclosed the basis the President Muhammadu Buhari administration used to pick the beneficiaries.

The criteria were old age, ill-health, convicts serving three years and above but have less than six months to serve, inmates with mental health issues, and those owing fines not exceeding N50,000 with no pending cases.

A total of 2,600 that were in various custodial centres across the country benefitted from the amnesty.

Aregbesola said the government paid N21.4million fines on behalf of 885 convicts who could not meet the obligation.

The minister added that out of the number, “41 inmates were federal convicts”.