The newly appointed Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, has unveiled a seven-point reform blueprint.
Nwakuche expressed commitment to tackling chronic challenges such as prison overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and poor staff morale during a formal decoration ceremony held in Abuja on Friday.
His plan includes enhanced surveillance, infrastructure upgrades, staff training, and the introduction of more non-custodial measures.
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“We have over two-thirds of our inmates awaiting trial. This is a structural challenge we must urgently address in collaboration with the judiciary and state authorities,” he stated.
He also pledged greater attention to the rehabilitation of young offenders, promising to strengthen and expand Borstal Institutions as part of efforts to prevent youth recidivism.
“We will not give up on our young people. They deserve a second chance. Our correctional institutions must become centres of transformation and new beginnings,” he said.
Nwakuche called for collective support from officers, stakeholders, and partners, declaring, “Only through unity and shared commitment can we build a correctional system that truly serves justice and humanity.”
Nwakuche, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in acting capacity on December 13, 2024, was confirmed as the substantive CG by the Senate on March 25, 2025.
He succeeds Haliru Nababa.
Nwakuche expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him, describing his new role as a pivotal moment in the history of the service.
“This appointment is not just a promotion—it is a profound responsibility to reform a system that must be both secure and humane,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged him to prioritise transformative reforms and rehabilitation in his leadership agenda.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, charged Nwakuche with steering the service away from punitive practices and towards a correctional system grounded in accountability, dignity, and renewal.
“You’ve been entrusted with a critical national responsibility. This role demands vision, measurable goals, and clear timelines. You’re not just heading an institution—you’re leading a shift in philosophy,” the minister said.
Emphasising the importance of modern leadership, Tunji-Ojo encouraged Nwakuche to elevate the operational standards of over 250 custodial centres nationwide, insisting that the service must become a platform for redemption rather than condemnation.
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“We want to see stability and meaningful change in the Correctional Service. The centres should not symbolise hopelessness but serve as grounds for reformation,” he added, describing inmates as “potential assets” who must be treated with fairness and guided towards reintegration.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the Ministry and citizens alike expect a transformation that will reshape public perception of the correctional system.
“There’s immense work ahead, and the expectations are high. You must deliver reforms that will be remembered,” she said.
