Abubakar Umar is an Assistant Controller and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) headquarters. In this interview with BODE OLAGOKE, he speaks on various reforms introduced by the current Controller General of NCoS, Haliru Nababa.
You are the spokesperson of NCoS. What motivated you into joining the Service?
My motivation stemmed from my love for humanity and also to help the down-trodden. For me, the essence of life is to serve humanity. Joining the Service therefore is a dream I longed for and I am happy I chose this career. Being a Correctional Officer is a huge trust to change people found wanting and train them to become useful citizens.
The year 2022 was a challenging one for the Service for which some people called for the removal of your Controller General. How would you defend this?
Yes, Nigerians would bear me witness that the service did not have it smooth due to one or two unfortunate incidences. However, even in the face of these, the Service was able to shake them off and carried on with the mandates which the nation bestowed on it. In 2022, the Service nipped those challenges in the bud by taking several proactive steps. For instance, we explored the use of technology to further fortify our facilities. Also, there was the activation of the Mental Health Review and Parole Board which was inaugurated last year to kick-start the parole system in Nigeria. Again, we rebranded the appearances of our personnel to fall in line with the correctional mandate which it now bears.
Jail-breaks were rampant in 2022. How many of those inmates were your Service able to recapture?
I want to inform you that a good number of them have been recaptured and returned to custody with the collaboration of sister security agencies. We are however not resting on our oars to track and return everyone of them to custody. We have deployed covert and overt measures to track them and return them to where they should be.
How would you respond to allegation that some of your personnel were members of the dreaded terrorist groups responsible for some of the attacks on your facilities in 2022?
This is the imagination of its originators. It is falsehood meant to bring the Service to disrepute, and I want to encourage the general public to disregard it as there are no such persons in the Service. The Service is enthroning discipline among its personnel through regular trainings and retraining as well as ensuring sanctions for erring staff in accordance with extant rules and regulations. Also, the Service encourages excellence among the staff; hence, the CG recently gave life to the Correctional Officers Reward Fund (CORF) through which many personnel who have displayed excellence, gallantry and exceptional performances are rewarded. So, the accusation is not true and should be disregarded.
How much of reforms would you say Nababa-led NCoS has introduced since inception and how effective are they especially against repeated attacks on your facilities?
Immediately he assumed office, he made it clear that he was out to work to improve both inmates and staff welfare. He recognized that the full implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 is germane to needed reforms; thereby set into action by activating some of the provisions of the Act. Like I said earlier, the Mental Health Review and Parole Boards were set up to further this course. Also, under this administration, a massive staff housing project has been launched to provide sustainable accommodation for our staff. The service has also introduced technology to assist surveillance in our custodial facilities, while staff welfare has been put on the front burner. The administration has also expanded logistical support by acquiring more operational vehicles as well as successfully unveiling new uniforms for the Service in line with best correctional practice.
How much of mechanism does your Service have in place to monitor former inmates who have been set free?
We have a structured mechanism to supervise ex-offender to ensure they are resettled in their communities. The Service has an aftercare unit which oversees that ex-offenders returning to the society are equipped with the wherewithal to reenter seamlessly. Experiences have shown that most ex-offenders find it difficult to reintegrate into their communities as a result of several factors; hence, when they are being released, we provide them with tools and equipment based on the skills and vocations they acquired while in custody. Our aftercare officers monitor them regularly to ensure their progression and make sure they do not return to criminal lifestyle.
Since the federal government changed the name, what has changed?
A lot has really changed with the coming of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019. For instance, we have improved on our treatment for offenders, we have paid more attention to the behaviour modification of offenders instead of punishment. We believe in this new era that offenders are more or less like patients who should be cared for instead of inflicting more suffering on them. It is only through this way that the nation can achieve a society devoid of crime. So, a lot has changed in the way and manner we manage offenders.
