Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Lakushi Farm Centre of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) in Plateau State has harvested over 400 bags of rice in 2017.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mr. Luka Ayedoo, the Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State command.
The statement read: “The farm is one of the 17 Prison farms in Nigerian and majors in rice production because of its comparative advantage. It was repositioned at the wake of President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to diversify the Nigerian economy with emphasis on the Agricultural and Mining sectors.
“The NPS received good funding, which launched the transformation phase of these farms in 2016; leading to the procurement and distribution of modern farm tools aimed at mechanising the farms for self-sufficiency, training of inmates and enhance revenue base of the service.
 “The Lakushi Farm Centre in 2017 received two tractors, one operational vehicle, two boom sprayers, three seed-drill planters, two multi-crop threshers, herbicides, pesticides etc. The Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed, also approved the sum of N3,344,291.58 for the renovation of the farm building and inmate cells; which is ongoing.
 “The farm is already living up to its expectation of supporting prisoners’ rehabilitation and reintegration through enhanced modern skills/training in farming techniques, and has kick-started the Nigerian Prisons’ drive towards self-sufficiency.â€
The statement added that the service is opened to any form of support, cooperation, and partnership that would enhance the execution of her mandate.
