Nigerian Correctional Service
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The visit, undertaken in the company of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, was aimed at witnessing firsthand the ongoing inmates’ rehabilitation and reformation programmes as well as assessing the general state of the facility.
During the visit, the Honourable Minister and the NBA President toured various skill acquisition centres within the facility, including vocational workshops, educational classrooms, and ICT training units, where inmates are being equipped with relevant life and trade skills to aid their smooth reintegration into society after release.
The Minister commended the Nigerian Correctional Service for the inmates humane working environment and sustained commitment to the reformation mandate, noting that such visits are vital in ensuring accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in custodial administration. He further reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to humane custodial management and meaningful rehabilitation of offenders.
In his remarks, the NBA President lauded the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Interior, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the NBA in promoting inmates’ access to justice, skill development, and post-custody reintegration. He also pledged the NBA’s commitment to supporting the facility’s skill acquisition and education programs with needed materials for greater impact.
The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, appreciated the Honourable Minister and the NBA team for the visit, describing it as a strong motivation for officers and inmates alike. He pledged the continued commitment of the Service to the reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of offenders in line with international best practices.
The visit concluded with a tour of the custodial Centre’s water production centre, drug production center, perimeter walls and an interactive session with inmates at various classrooms and workshops, where both dignitaries encouraged them to remain focused on self-development and transformation as they prepare for a new beginning beyond custody.
