The change of name from Nigeria Prison Service to the Nigeria Correctional Service may have engendered far more transformational and reformative results in the custodial facilities, to a new dimension where inmates go beyond the realm of religions or writing WAEC and NECO exams, to the realms of self-actualization.

The Maritime First was told that inmates in Nigeria Correctional Service NCS are now publishing books, even as over a thousand are running their Bachelor of Science degrees when not fewer than six are running their PhD programme.

The Nigerian Correctional Service NCS image maker and Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview in Abuja, also noted that the current management is also deliberately pursuing the noteworthy agenda of encouraging inmates’ self-realization and actualization.

“The change in name from the Nigerian Prison Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service under the Nigerian Correctional Act, which was signed into law by the Immediate past administration, has brought significant transformation and reformation to the penal system” the Image maker Mr Umar Abubakar,  stated, noting that the name -change first remove the stigmatising effect, which the term ‘prison’ connoted.

He highlighted that though the nomenclature modification was a global phenomenon, the management has gone beyond the issue of name, 

“The term prison had a stigmatizing effect. But the term ‘correctional’ connotes true reformation and rehabilitation of those who are legally in terms with us. 

“A lot of things have happened since the name change. Let’s start with the management structure of the Nigeria Correctional Service. 

“In the past, we used to have six directorates. But as I speak with you now, we have eight directorates, with two additions, to the other six which we had; and that is Training and the Directorate of Non-custodial Measures.

“The realm of non-custodial measures has helped, with the conundrum of congestion of our facilities; because it is not all petty thefts that are confined to custodial sentencing. 

“There are some thefts where the suspects or the convicts are sometimes committed to community service sentences, while some are given parole.

“Then also, we have expanded our reformation activities of inmates, while we have an avalanche of education scheme of skills acquisition programs. We also have our education scheme of skills acquisition programs. 

“This is an inmate who came into our custodial centre without any formal education”

“We also have our education models which are to encourage them to embrace self-actualization.. For example, we have a guy who has published four books”, the image maker said, identifying the books as Crime Scenes: An Interview with Crime Suspects; the Eagle and the Thorns; the Catalyst of Self Development; and another one yet to be launched: The Moon Was Out Of Sight For A decade.

Umar Abubakar said it was noteworthy that the books were written by an inmate who came into the facility without any formal education. 

“This is an inmate who came into our custodial centre without any formal education. 

“He came to our custodial centre, sat for his WAEC, passed it with a very good grade; got enrolled into our university system, and passed with flying colour. 

“He went for his Master’s Degree and as I am speaking with you, he’s done with his Master’s Degree; and his next line of action is that he was to go for his PhD.”, the Public Relations Officer stated further, stressing that “all these things are geared towards reformation and rehabilitation of inmates”.

The image maker proudly noted that their inmates were currently at various levels of obtaining their degree and master programmes; adding that not fewer than 1,282 inmates reading for their Diplomas degree programmes; and 1,215 inmates pursuing another line of degree programmes, as of August 2024.

 He noted that some were equally running their Diplomas, postgraduate diplomas and Masters; pointing out that the decision had genuinely been taken to ensure that those who seek self-actualization are not denied the opportunity, by the fact of not being in their respective homes.

 He declared that six were already running their P.hD programmes, with not fewer than three presently doing their thesis.

“What I am trying to say is that we presently have an avalanche of opportunities available to those in our custodial centres, and this is due to the current administration’s determination to give maximum support to the people under our custody to seek and realize their dreams” he said.

 He commended the management for not neglecting the NCS personnel, highlighting that staff emoluments have now significantly improved, in addition to other motivational packages, because management understands the fact that motivation is an indubitable catalyst for greater productivity and efficiency.

“The Honourable Minister of Interior has done so much in this regard. We have never had it so good!”, the image maker further observed. 

…Affirms Adeniyi demonstrates exemplary commitment to achieving the Board’s laudable objectives

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has applauded the integrity and transparency of the Comptroller General of Customs CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, noting that the Customs Arrowhead has demonstrated exemplary commitment to achieving laudable objectives of the Customs’ Service Board.

The Minister who stressed the importance of collaboration, particularly between various ministries and the private sector, also noted that the Nigeria Customs Service Board includes representatives from the ministries of Trade and Investment, Foreign Affairs, and Finance; as well as members of the organised private sector. 

He made the observation on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, while presiding over the 60th regular board meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS. The meeting was held at the newly built NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja; and was about the first of its kind since the commissioning of the edifice by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Wale Edun expressed his satisfaction with the board’s adherence to the decision to meet quarterly, describing it as an essential aspect of corporate governance, noting that regular meetings and updates on financial performance were crucial for any government agency seeking to meet its objectives and impact positively on citizens. 

“I think that board meetings serve as an important part of corporate governance and corporate governance is key to running an organisation efficiently as well as providing the necessary direction and management to keep government policies on track”, Wale Edun stated, applauding the integrity and transparency of CGC Adeniyi.

He expressed satisfaction that the Nigeria Customs Service Board NCSB presently provides a forum which, “Ensures that critical national issues are thoroughly discussed and implemented on time”. 

While fielding questions about his feelings, for being the first Minister and NCSB Chairman to have chaired a meeting at the newly built NCS Corporate Headquarters, the Minister took the opportunity to commend the Customs Service on the achievement.

He said: “I congratulate the Nigeria Customs Service on this achievement of not just building a new edifice, but moving into it, making use of it, and keeping it very neat and tidy, and I pray for the success of all those who work at the new facility.

 The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills, on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Western Naval Command and the Regional Maritime Capability (RMAC) Centre in furtherance of the bilateral relations between the countries.

Speaking during the visit, Mills said that deepening the partnership with the Nigerian Navy was important in ensuring that the Gulf of Guinea would be as free as possible from maritime crimes.

“We want to reduce to the barest minimum maritime crimes such as piracy, oil theft, and Unregulated Unreported Fishing among others.

“We have been talking about how to strengthen our partnership and what more we can do to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

The ambassador said that one of the ways to ensure that the partnership was strengthened was through the conduct of maritime exercises between the two navies to improve coordination.

“A lot of things are working well; our intelligence sharing, our training capabilities among other things.

“Some new assets and equipment that will be helpful towards improving maritime security was shared with me and we will be looking at that too,” he said

Similarly, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Mustapha Hassan thanked the U.S. for their cooperation with countries in the Gulf of Guinea.

Hassan said that matters were discussed on how to improve partnership and work together toward making the global maritime economy much better placed.

“One of the focus of discourse centred on upgrading the sensor capabilities of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability system.

“The system is working and in good order but an upgrade will put us in a better state among other leading nations of the world,” he said.

The FOC said that the U.S. was already planning another Obangame Express- a maritime exercise which would help prepare the Nigerian Navy for eventualities in the Gulf of Guinea.