By Janet OYELEYE
Nigeria’s correctional reform agenda has received a major continental endorsement as Heads of Correctional Services from 11 African countries described the country’s technology-driven custodial system and inmate rehabilitation initiatives as a benchmark for modern corrections in Africa.
The endorsement followed an inspection of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje, by delegates attending the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA) Regional Conference in Abuja.
The delegation, led by the Deputy Chairman of ACSA’s West African Region, Mr. Sabila Sawadogo, toured the facility’s inmate admission unit, observed biometric registration through the Correctional Information Management System (CIMS), inspected the control room, and visited educational and vocational training centres. Inmates at the centre are currently being trained in tailoring, carpentry, ICT, building technology, shoe and cap production, bag making and solar installation.
Speaking after the inspection, Sawadogo said the Centre’s operations conform to international correctional standards and reflect global best practices in offender management. “The deployment of digital technology in inmate management and the emphasis placed on education, vocational training and rehabilitation are critical pillars for reducing recidivism and improving public safety across Africa,” he said.
He also commended the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for providing the leadership driving the transformation of Nigeria’s custodial centres. According to Sawadogo, the reforms represent a significant departure from the traditional prison model towards a correctional philosophy centred on reformation, rehabilitation and successful reintegration.
Welcoming the delegates, the Controller of Corrections, Federal Capital Territory Command, Peter Jen, reaffirmed the Nigerian Correctional Service’s commitment to innovation, professional excellence and international cooperation. He said the Service has prioritised inmate education and vocational empowerment to ensure that persons leaving custodial centres possess employable skills that will enable them to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.
The visit formed part of the practical sessions of the ACSA Regional Conference, allowing correctional leaders from across Africa to examine Nigeria’s reform initiatives firsthand and exchange ideas on strengthening correctional systems on the continent.
The commendation comes as Nigeria implements sweeping reforms under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, which replaced the former Nigerian Prisons Service and shifted focus to rehabilitation, non-custodial measures, vocational training and reintegration. The legislation aligns Nigeria’s correctional framework with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
In recent years, the Service has accelerated the deployment of digital technologies, including CIMS, to improve inmate documentation, enhance security and streamline custodial administration, while expanding educational and skills acquisition programmes designed to reduce repeat offending. Despite the 2022 terrorist attack on the Kuje facility, authorities have since upgraded security infrastructure and operational systems while strengthening rehabilitation programmes. The centre is now regarded as one of the flagship facilities showcasing the reforms.
Observers say the endorsement by African correctional chiefs reflects Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping correctional reforms across the continent, with the country’s experience now serving as a reference point for other African nations seeking to modernise their prison systems through technology and human-centred rehabilitation.
