Nigerian Correctional Service

The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, MFR, mni in the bid to reposition the Nigerian Correctional Service in line with global best standards, participated in a comparative study tour of the Turkish Penitentiary Institutions alongside the Ministerial Committee on Correctional Service reforms led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Dr. Magdalene Ajani.  

The visit was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) through exposure to international best practices in inmate management, reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

While in Turkey, the Controller General and the Ministry of Interior delegation engaged with officials of the Turkish Ministry of Justice and the Director General of Prisons and Detention Houses Enis Yavuz Yildirim. The team toured selected custodial centres, observed rehabilitation programs, and examined innovative approaches to correctional facility design, staff training, and inmates’ welfare.

Speaking with the Turkish Director General of Penitentiary Institutions and Detention Houses, the Controller General of Corrections emphasized that the goal of the study is to adapt relevant strategies that can improve custodial and non-custodial operations of the Service in 

alignment with ongoing reforms targeted at repositioning it for enhanced efficiency, security, and human rights compliance.

During the tour, the delegation visited the industrial units comprising of textile, furniture manufacturing unit and printing session within the penitentiary. The team also engaged with the Probation Service, and examined different operational and rehabilitative aspects of the facility.

The visit aims to enhance bilateral ties between Nigeria and Turkey, with a focus on improving collaboration in correctional management and criminal justice reform.