Abuja: The Federal Government has called for stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to drive sustainable reforms across correctional centres. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the call during a stakeholders’ dialogue on optimising correctional farm centres and expanding PPP pathways for inmate rehabilitation and reintegration.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the dialogue was organised by Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service, with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, funded by the European Union and International IDEA. The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, praised HBBA for its impactful interventions in correctional centres.
Dr Ajani emphasized that HBBA was actively working in at least four custodial institutions, and the government aimed to deepen and expand this collaboration through structured partnerships. She highlighted that transforming the correctional system required collective efforts from the private sector, civil society, and development partners.
Globally, the philosophy of correctional administration has shifted towards transformation and rehabilitation, moving away from mere custodial detention. Dr Tunji-Ojo pointed out that partnerships could transform correctional farm centres into productive agricultural hubs, equipping inmates with skills to contribute meaningfully to society upon release.
The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCOS), Sylvester Nwakuche, stated that the Service was undergoing reforms to reposition facilities as centres of reformation. NCOS operates 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries, alongside multiple agricultural projects nationwide, which support food production and skills training.
Nwakuche stressed that PPP would enhance productivity, modernise operations, and improve reintegration outcomes. He expressed hope that the dialogue would examine practical models, share experiences, and identify actionable pathways for optimising correctional farm centres.
The Executive Director of HBBA, Funke Adeoye, discussed the ‘Farming Justice Project,’ which integrates agriculture with inmate reformation. This initiative addresses food insecurity and reduces reoffending. Adeoye revealed that the project operates in multiple custodial centres, engaging inmates in structured programmes covering behavioural reform, financial literacy, and agricultural production.
The programme has reached hundreds of direct beneficiaries, including inmates and correctional officers across Edo, Abuja, and Lagos, with wider indirect impacts on families, communities, and local food systems. Some correctional facilities are generating income through the sale of farm produce to surrounding communities, while inmates gain skills that support reintegration after release.
Adeoye emphasized that the dialogue would help refine and strengthen the training framework for wider adoption and identify practical strategies for maximising farm centre productivity, efficiency, and governance. She added that it would explore PPP models that clearly define the roles of government, the private sector, and civil society.
Representative of ROLAC, Danladi Plang, underscored the importance of partnerships in addressing challenges within the criminal justice system. Plang noted that collaboration between government and non-state actors provides essential resources, expertise, and innovation needed to drive sustainable reform.