Not punitive, but correction for Nigerian inmates

Assisting Nigerian inmates to be reformed is part of efforts to rehabilitate and not punish them in order to be re-integrated into the society upon completion of their sentence.

Such inmates, upon release, would not be looking for government work or even private individuals to assist them, but will be on their feet in order to excel from what they’re taught in correctional centres.

This is the task of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and so all that inmates do behind bars is to correct them such that when they come out of custodian centres they will be on their own.

Other ways the NCS has provided tools for learning carpentry, fishery, pot making, piggery, farming, shoe-making, knitting for women and a re-integration programme to empower the inmates upon discharge.

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One of such ways is musicals like choir and other music provided by non-governmental organisations like Hope Behind Bars Africa, who tutor inmates on music production.

Just recently, there was a launching of a musical choir act for inmates of Suleja Custodian Centre as part of efforts to rehabilitate and reform them to be re-integrated into the society upon completion of their sentence.

Since 2019 when the Nigerian Correctional Service Act was promulgated, it has provided several re-formational activities like Open University centre, GCE centres that inmates can take advantage of, including adult education classes where they can obtain even degree certificates.

The NCS Comptroller General, Alh. Haliru Nababa, has also approved that starter packs be given to inmates so that they can use them to assist themselves. NCS has also provided an After Care Unit that follows the ex-inmates to ensure that the starter packs given to them are properly utilised. And they are monitored even after their release. Now you hardly find inmates coming back after their discharge.

This is therefore a call on the society, especially the ex-inmates family, not to stigmatise ex-inmates but encourage and give them a second chance through re-integration in order to avoid allowing them to experience a second prison.

This will help reduce the rate of crime in our society.

Ibrahim N. Idris is Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command