What are the practical reforms that have been done since the change of name to Nigerian Correctional Service?
They are enormous. But before I proceed to mention them, let me inform you that the change of our nomenclature to Nigerian Correctional Service is by virtue of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 which was signed into law by the immediate past administration on 31 July, 2019. The Act brought with it reforms and transformations in the penal system, criminal justice administration and the Nigerian Correctional Service in particular.
First and foremost, the Act replaced the term ‘prison’ with ‘corrections’ in line with the philosophy of modern and contemporary correctional practice that is globally recognised. It is a given that the term ‘prison’ has a stigmatising effect and reflects as punitive philosophy, while the term ‘corrections’ reflects a philosophy of true reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration. The system has graduated from being punitive and retributory to employing treatment and psychological mechanisms towards modify the criminal behaviour of offenders.
There are several practical reforms that have occurred in the penal administration of Nigeria such as the spike in the reformatory programmes in various custodial centres. We have a smooth partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) which is yielding lots of results. We are currently establishing more special centres of the University in other custodial centres. Inmates are provided the opportunity to further their education and obtain various degrees and certificates while concurrently serving their terms of imprisonment.
There is also a noticeable improvement in our vocational skills acquisition programmes as well as agricultural training programmes for inmates in farm centres.
What has changed in the process you employ to reform and rehabilitate inmates?
I would say that as a correctional officer, I feel a sense of self-actualisation when I see an ex-offender who passed through our facilities doing well and contributing positively and functionally to the society towards national development. It is only then that the salary I am receiving from the government is justified. Therefore, our most important responsibility is to modify and reform offenders and get them back on track so that they can be able to conform to societal laws and norms. We have various programmes and strategies of ensuring their rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration back to the society. Prominent among them is the use of educational initiatives as well as vocational and skills acquisition programmes. In our facilities today, offenders can study up to doctorate level while incustody.
Recently, the Federal Government commissioned a new custodial centre in Kano State, how would this facility improve penal administration in Nigeria?
Yes, the recently commissioned custodial facility in Janguza, Kano state, is the first of several others that are being constructed in all geopolitical zones of the country. The mega facility has a capacity of 3000 inmates and equippedwith modern facilities as well as utilities such as school, hospital, recreational centres and courts. The facility i equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and has different vocational/skills acquisition centres and workshops forthe training of inmates. Indeed, this facility will to a large extent help to reduce congestion in our facilities as it is bringing on board 3000 more spaces to our capacity. The facility has indeed changed the orientation of the public towards the Service as Nigerians are wowed by the quality of facilities in the custodial centre. More of such facilities are being built in various locations in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and they will be commissioned as soon as they are completed. So it is a bright future for penal administration in Nigeria.
What makes this new custodial facility different from others?
The new mega custodial centre is constructed to accommodate a minimum of 3000 inmates. There are various facilities that are built to ensure that our mission and vision are attained effectively. The facility is one with a human face that aims at rehabilitating inmates and ensuring that after an inmate has been released, he will be able to integrate effectively with society. Inmates in this custodial centre will not only be given social skills but will also be given a means of livelihood.
It has building which will accommodate all the staff in the administrative duties. There is a security monitoring office, where at a glance, the officer in charge can see the entire facility. The facility is also equipped with recreational facilities and playing ground of various games; there is a football field, a basketball court, and an area to lift weights. The facility has a vocational training centre, which will have courses like ICT, entrepreneurship, carpentry, fashion designing, plumbing, auto-mechanics, and electricals.
What are the efforts made by Service towards minimising congestion in facilities?
Congestion has become a conundrum as well as a big challenge in some custodial centres. However, let inform you that this challenge is mostly encountered in our facilities located in urban centres mostly, and that awaiting trial inmates contribute greatly in causing these congestions. The Service is making concrete efforts to ensure that this challenge is minimised by expansion of custodial facilities to accommodate more inmates, provision of operational vehicles to facilitate the timely production of awaiting trial detainees in courts for speedy justice delivery, providing options for non-custodial measures, as well as liaising with other agencies in the criminal justice sector to remove bottlenecks causing clogs in speedy justice delivery.
How did the Service navigate the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring the protection of inmates from getting affected?
The Service took proactive measures during the COVID period because of the priority we attach to the care and well-being of both staff and offenders. In addition to the measures taken by the Federal Government, we went further to restrict contacts with the outside environment by limiting visits, providing protective materials that promote good hygiene in the facilities. In addition, we liaised with relevant organs and agencies to decongest our facilities through encouraging special jail delivery and clemency for offenders among others.
We have not heard of any jailbreak or riot in recent time, what have you done to achieve this feat?
Yes, the Nigerian Correctional Service has not recorded any jail break or insurgency from the inmates because of the efforts of the Service towards making sure that the welfare of the inmates is improved. We have improved tremendously in their feeding and ration, their medical care, their accommodation, their hygiene/sanitation as well as ma ing sure the awaiting trial person who form bulk of our lock-up get access to justice via taking them to courts as and at when due. In addition, we have engaged the inmates in productive ventures through the various educational/vocational programmes going on in the various custodial centres nationwide. Of course, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Once we engaged them productively and take care of their welfare, they have no time to riot or engage in acts that are detrimental to our rules.
How are you strengthening security around your facilities to ensure that the Kuje jailbreak incidence don’t repeat itself?
The Service is making proactive efforts to ensure that we keep our correctional facilities fortified nationwide. At present, all custodial facilities are considered as red zones and anyone who tries to cross that line may not live to tell the story. We have synergized with sister security agencies to increase our fortification of our facilities. We have also introduced the use of technology in the surveillance of these facilities to ensure that they are not desecrated by enemies of the nation. It might interest you to know that we monitor our facilities from a situation room located at the national headquarters here in Abuja.
