The Nigerian Correctional Service is facing a challenge as stigmatization and societal rejection push some freed inmates back to its facilities. This concern was highlighted by the Controller General, Haliru Nababa, at a national conference in Abuja. Reintegrating former inmates into society is proving difficult due to misconceptions about them being viewed as criminals.
President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recently increased the feeding allowance for inmates to N1,250 per day to improve inmate welfare. The Controller General applauded this move as a step in the right direction.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police appealed for understanding, emphasizing the need to avoid pressuring law enforcement with tasks that belong to the court. The issue of trust and corruption in the system was also discussed at the conference, with a call for improved accountability and transparency.
Overall, efforts are being made to address the challenges within the correctional and law enforcement systems in Nigeria, with a focus on enhancing rehabilitation and reintegration programs.