Chisco Group has donated two buses to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, to facilitate the transportation of awaiting-trial inmates to court and support efforts aimed at improving their rehabilitation.

The buses, which have a combined capacity of up to 100 persons, subject to approved seating and security configurations, were presented as part of activities marking the 70th birthday of the group’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, CON.

According to the group, the vehicles will be fully maintained and are intended to strengthen the centre’s capacity to transport awaiting-trial inmates safely and promptly for court proceedings.

The initiative was undertaken by Anyaegbu with the support of Chief Obinna Anyaegbu, Managing Director of Chisco Transport Limited and Machine Nationwide Limited, as well as members and staff of the group, family members and other associates.

The donation seeks to address transportation challenges that can affect the movement of inmates to court and, consequently, the timely disposal of awaiting-trial cases.

The Nigerian Correctional Service has identified inadequate court-transport vehicles among the challenges that can affect the movement of inmates for judicial proceedings.

The Ikoyi custodial centre, according to information provided by the group, currently holds more than 3,000 awaiting-trial inmates. Delays in transporting inmates to court can result in missed appearances and adjournments, potentially prolonging the resolution of cases.

Speaking on the initiative, Anyaegbu said he decided to mark his 70th birthday by addressing a practical challenge affecting access to justice.

“I chose to mark my 70th birthday by responding to a practical problem affecting the liberty, dignity and future of fellow Nigerians,” he said.

“Justice cannot move efficiently when the people who require it cannot get to court. These buses are our contribution towards making the justice process more accessible and effective.”

Obinna Anyaegbu said the intervention was intended as an operational commitment rather than a one-off ceremonial donation.

“This is not simply a donation of two buses. We are applying Chisco’s experience in mobility, fleet management and automotive maintenance to an important public need,” he said.

He added that the group would support maintenance of the vehicles, monitor their utilisation and work with correctional authorities to assess their impact on court attendance and case progression.

The group also plans to establish performance indicators covering the number of court movements completed, inmates transported and missed court appearances linked to transportation challenges.

Other indicators will include vehicle availability, maintenance performance and the progression of affected awaiting-trial cases, with the results compared with previous court-transport records where available.

Beyond transportation, Machine Nationwide Limited, a Chisco Group company, has committed to supporting automotive maintenance and technical skills training for eligible inmates.

The proposed programme is expected to support workshop activities at the facility while providing participants with practical skills in vehicle maintenance and related trades.

According to the group, the training is intended to improve the participants’ prospects of securing legitimate livelihoods and reintegrating into society after their release.

The Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, welcomed the intervention and expressed the facility’s readiness to work with Chisco Transport Limited and Machine Nationwide Limited on vehicle maintenance, workshop development and technical training.

Obinna Anyaegbu said correctional intervention should extend beyond confinement, noting that inmates should be equipped with skills and opportunities that could support their reintegration into society.

“Correctional intervention must extend beyond confinement. People should leave the system with stronger prospects than they had when they entered it,” he said.

“Skills, dignity and legitimate economic opportunities are essential to reducing reoffending and helping individuals become productive members of society.”

The Chisco Group acknowledged the efforts of the federal government and the Nigerian Correctional Service in addressing challenges within the correctional system, but said the scale of the challenges required greater participation from the private sector and civil society.

The intervention, according to the group, forms part of Anyaegbu’s broader commitment to enterprise, human dignity and nation-building.

Chisco Group is a Nigerian business conglomerate with interests in transportation, logistics, automotive services, technology, hospitality and real estate, among other sectors.