The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s correctional centres into engines of rehabilitation, productivity, and national development through strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
This position was highlighted during a stakeholders’ engagement on optimising correctional farm centres, industries, and PPP pathways, convened by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with civil society groups and development partners.
Representing the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, stressed that modern correctional systems must go beyond incarceration to prioritise rehabilitation, skills acquisition, and reintegration of inmates.
She noted that the Ministry is strengthening partnerships with organisations such as HOPE Behind Bars Africa to expand reform initiatives across correctional facilities nationwide.
“Correctional centres must evolve into institutions of transformation—where inmates are equipped with practical skills and opportunities to become productive members of society upon release,” she said.
Ajani described PPPs as critical tools for combining government oversight with private sector innovation, investment, and efficiency, adding that such collaborations would unlock the full potential of correctional farm centres and industries, particularly in agriculture and vocational training.
She further explained that the centres could be repositioned as hubs of modern agriculture, agro-processing, and value-chain development, contributing to both inmate rehabilitation and national food security.
Also speaking, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, reaffirmed ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning correctional facilities as centres of reformation and reintegration.
He disclosed that the Service operates 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries nationwide, covering crop production, livestock, fisheries, and poultry, which serve as platforms for inmate welfare and skills development.
Nwakuche emphasised that stronger collaboration with the private sector would boost productivity, introduce modern techniques, and create sustainable value chains within correctional facilities.
Stakeholders at the event—including representatives from government, private sector, and civil society—called for practical, scalable, and sustainable models to drive meaningful impact.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah, urged greater accountability and innovation in optimising correctional farm centres, stressing that agriculture remains vital to economic growth and national security.
The engagement aligned with the broader reform agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritised institutional strengthening, economic productivity, and sustainable development.
Participants were encouraged to build partnerships that will transform correctional facilities into centres of productivity, reduce recidivism, and enhance community safety.
