SEASON OF RENEWED HOPE

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·          Nigerian Correctional Services showcases its performance, writes Henry Udutchay
For every new season there’s a renewed hope. The hope of a better today than yesterday. The hope that
things will change and every set back of the past shall be forgotten and new dawn will befall. This is the
case of our dear country Nigeria, when on the 29th of May, 2023, the baton of Democracy was passed
and extended to a man who many have described as a cat with nine lives.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over the realms of affairs on Democracy Day and in the midst of the
fanfare, there has been serious political machinations going on. From executive, legislative and judiciary
arm of government, it is going to be a long period of sitting up, permutations and calculations as the case
may be.

Many heads of agencies and parastatals who are unsure of their portfolio would be busy going from one
place to another seeking audience and trying to be in the good books. While newbies, hangers on and
other political jobbers would also be jostling and lobbying for various opportunities. Whereas, for those
who have performed, they will be relaxed, expecting their good works to do the talking. They are
convinced that they’ve performed well and as such do not need to develop an emergency “high BP”.
Good works speak for itself.

Therefore, whenever we speak on performance and being true to duty, one agency keeps coming to
mind. Indeed, it is very glaring from the numerous projects it
started commissioning in recent time, which has earned it the nickname “The Performer”, that Nigeria
Correctional Services, under the stewardship of Controller General Haliru Nababa, stands out.
To avoid sounding like a broken record, perhaps it’s imperative to highlight some of these
projects commissioned recently by the NCoS so as to create a perfect picture of how things are from
how they used to be before today.

Controller General Haliru Nababa and his team have successfully commissioned the following projects in
recent time: The Nigerian Correctional Service zone A Headquarters in Lagos; 20-Bed COVID-19
intervention fund hospital at Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ilesha, Osun State; The Nigerian
Correctional Service, Imo State Headquarters, another 20-Bed COVID-19 intervention fund hospital at
Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port Harcourt, and the most recent, which is the 3000 Capacity
Ultramodern Custodial Centre at Janguza, in Kano State, to mention.

Most of these projects were commissioned by members of the executive arm, including former
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was on hand to commission the 3,000 capacity ultramodern
Custodial Centre in Kano some days before he vacated office. It was a unique and special occasion. This is
so because it was a first of its kind and in line with the former President’s promise to fully support the
Nigerian Correctional Services in the discharge of its duties effectively.

While addressing journalists at the unveiling ceremony of the project in Janguza, Kano State, on
26th May, 2023, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, noted that the auspicious ceremony confirms President Buhari’s capacity to transform the critical component of criminal justice
administration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) as a prime beneficiary.

“Indeed, this ceremony further confirms Mr. President’s capacity and tenacity to rewrite the history of justice administration in Nigeria, through total transformation of the critical component of criminal
justice administration”.

The 3,000-capacity ultramodern custodial centre will provide a conducive environment for inmates and
reduce congestion in that particular region. Dealing with congestion is a paramount issue across all
Custodial Centres around the country. So this is a huge step in the right direction.

The various projects carried out and completed by the current leadership of the NCos, clearly shows the
direction and drive of the agency and the competence of those running the affairs. It proves that once
the right people are put in the right places, excellence delivery will stop being a myth in governance.
For instance the 20-bed COVID-19 intervention fund hospitals commissioned were among some of the
most important needs around the Correctional Centres, because even as the centres house those who
have been convicted of varying degrees of crimes and offences, international human right law requires
inmates to be provided with adequate medical care while in custody. This is as important as the remand
process itself. With this development, inmates can now access proper care and cases of those in
incarceration falling sick and dying would be drastically reduced. Except for natural occurrence, the life of every inmate is now secured more than before.
The past administration has done its part and they’re commended. However, for progress to be
maintained, especially in governance, it is well known that machineries of continuity must be sustained.

This is why an appeal is being made to the new government, under the leadership of President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu it should not abandon the Nigerian Correctional Services, and ensures that adequate
funding is provided for efficient performance delivery across board. It is through proper funding that maximum security of the centres can be guaranteed, as well as enabling officers and men of the service discharge their duties judiciously.

The administrative aspect of the Correctional Services is already in good hands, it is only right to provide
them with the necessary support they required for outstanding service delivery.

The new President will expectedly have his hands full in the coming weeks, as he would have to set up
his cabinet and prepare his team to lead Nigeria right. There’s renewed hope and that may be just the
turning point that Nigeria needs.

Chief Udutchay is a political analyst and social commentator, hochay2000@yahoo.com