FG reaffirms commitment to comprehensive reforms in Correctional Service
By Kunle Sanni
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to comprehensive reforms in the Nigeria Correctional Service, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the launch of a report on the National Assessment of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the Nigeria Correctional Service Act of 2019 mandates addressing issues related to juvenile delinquency through reforms and rehabilitation, expressing his personal commitment to providing young offenders with a second chance.
“I’m passionate about giving inmates, especially children and young adults, a second chance. A minor mistake by a young person should not define their future,” he stated.
The Minister expressed concerns about the number of correctional centers in Nigeria relative to the country’s population, highlighting the imbalance between the number of facilities and the relatively low inmate population.
“We need to ask ourselves if 256 correctional centers are necessary for a country with about 84,000 inmates out of 200 million people,” he questioned, adding that the security of these centers is also a pressing issue.
Addressing recent controversies, including the case of Bobrisky, Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed that there will be accountability within the correctional system.
“By next week, the committee will release its report. While my concern is broader than the Bobrisky case, any officer found to be negligent will face consequences,” he asserted.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to transforming the Correctional Service into a center for rehabilitation and reformation, moving beyond a mere change in name from prisons to correctional institutions.
“The correctional service cannot continue to be a point of disgrace for the Nigerian government. We will not allow the actions of a few to tarnish the reputation of the institution,” he said, adding that the committee handling reform issues will be expanded to address future crises.
The Minister thanked contributors to the report and assured that the government would take all concerns seriously while working toward sustainable solutions.
He also expressed the ministry’s ongoing support for UNICEF’s efforts in addressing juvenile justice issues.
Key stakeholders present at the event included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, National Assembly, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), UNICEF, Nigerian Bar Association, British High Commission, U.S. Embassy, European Union, and the National Human Rights Commission, among others.
