Abuja: Participating countries and partners at the 2026 Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification have adopted a communiqu© to strengthen correctional administration and advance prison reforms across Africa. The conference, which concluded on Friday in Abuja, was organized by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the three-day conference brought together heads of correctional services, policymakers, criminal justice experts, development partners, and delegates from 11 African countries. The participants unanimously agreed on a shared roadmap to bolster regional cooperation, institutionalize effective prisoner classification, and enhance the use of technology in correctional administration across the continent.
NCoS Public Relations Officer, CSC Jane Osuji, highlighted that the conference provided a platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences, and developing practical strategies to improve prisoner classification, leverage technology for prison management, and enhance rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes. The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, described the conference as a significant step towards modern, secure, and humane correctional systems in Africa.
Nwakuche emphasized that technical sessions during the conference produced recommendations to strengthen prisoner classification, encourage the responsible deployment of technology, and improve offender rehabilitation across African institutions. He reaffirmed NCoS’s commitment to implementing the resolutions through concrete policies and operational reforms, aligning with international best practices and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Nwakuche expressed gratitude to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for supporting correctional reforms and commended UNODC, ACSA, the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, INL, ICRC, and other partners for their contributions. Speaking for UNODC, Interregional Adviser and Team Leader on Prison and Penal Reform, Philip Meissner, praised Nigeria’s progress in strengthening prisoner classification and noted that the conference demonstrated a shift from discussions to implementing practical solutions.
Dr. Francis Omene, Principal Official of ACSA, presented the communiqu© on behalf of the participating countries, commending the Federal Government for fostering regional cooperation. Omene stated that the communiqu© reflects a collective commitment to strengthening prisoner classification, enhancing regional information sharing, investing in staff capacity, expanding technology use in prison management, and aligning practices with the Mandela Rules and other international standards.
ACSA Vice Chairman, Mr. Sabila Sawadogo, praised Nigeria and NCoS for hosting one of the most impactful correctional gatherings on the continent in recent years. He urged African institutions to sustain collaboration, embrace innovation, and share best practices, emphasizing that every correctional officer is a manager of human beings, not just a warden.
The conference, held in commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules, and to promoting dignity, justice, and rehabilitation. The adopted roadmap further underscores the commitment to secure, humane, and rehabilitation-focused correctional systems in line with international standards.