Agric Commissioner Lauds Inmates’ Reintegration Approach By A’Ibom Command Of Nigerian Correctional Service

UYO

The commissioner for agriculture has applauded the reintegration strategy adopted by the Akwa Ibom Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) for the benefit of inmates in the state.

 Dr Offiong Offor made her feeling known in this regard when the state comptroller of the state command of NCS, Mr Julius Ezugwu, led senior officers of the Command on a courtesy visit at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Agriculture inUyo, recently.

 She said the exploit by the leadership of the correctional centres to gainfully engage and prepare inmates for reintegration into the society after serving their jail term was highly commendable.

 The commissioner noted that her Ministry, having appreciated the efforts of the Correctional Centre, aimed at the immediate reintegration of the inmates after serving their jail terms, would be willing to partner in the realisation of the lofty objectives.

 She appreciated the organisation for indicating interest to bepart of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s food sufficiency agenda by enlisting the collaboration of her ministry in the supply of improved farm inputs such as cassava cuttings and other seedlings for cultivation in their large expanse of land located in the different correctional centres across the state.

 Offor described Governor Emmanuel as a man of excellence, who meant well for the government and people of Akwa Ibom, noting that the organisation, having taken such a bold step for the reintegration of the prison inmates after their jail terms and venturing into large scale agricultural production, also has the best interest of the state at heart. 

 According to her, the package will improve the inmate’s self-image and give them the psychological ability to come out of perceived stigmatisation in the society because of their active engagement on vocational skills for their future betterment,which is of importance to the government.

 Offor announced plans to put in place modalities by her ministry, soon, to go round assessing farms at the various locations for the purpose of determining the type and quantity of farm inputs to be supplied to them to encourage agricultural production in the state.

 “We will support the correctional centre, just like the different locations where we have our plantations. A team from the ministry will assess the needs of the correctional centres and give them the required support,” she announced.

 The commissioner was optimistic that the partnership will be of mutual benefit to both the correctional centre and Governor Emmanuel’s vision on food sufficiency, as it would offer the inmates a sense of belonging by engaging in farming activities to support themselves and as well contribute to the state government’s agricultural programme.

 The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Mary Ukoette Bassey, earlier in her remarks, explained that the name ‘correctional centre’ was a psychological respite for the inmates to correct themselves and be reintegrated into the larger society without any form of stigmatisation.

 Bassey, who appreciated the team for the visit, assured them of a smooth partnership, noting that their coming was in appreciation of Governor Emmanuel’s good work in the agricultural sector. 

 The comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Julius Ezugwu, revealed that his command has in its custody 2,998 inmates, out of which 473 are convicts, while the rest are awaiting trials for different categories of offences.

 Ezugwu recalled that the organization had been operating as the Nigerian Prison Service until 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Nigerian Correctional Service act into law.

 The comptroller posited that his stations in the different parts of the state were calm and peaceful due to the dynamic security approach employed in the management of the inmates.

 He noted that the centre offers educational and vocational training opportunities to inmates for skill acquisition, in order to reform and reintegrate them into the society at the end of their jail terms.

Ezugwu said the visit was to solicit the support of the state government in the provision of agricultural inputs and acknowledged with delight the numerous agricultural activities of Governor Emmanuel to farmers in the state, through the Ministry.