The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has charged Correctional Service Commanders to continue to Provide safe, secure and humane custody for inmates.
Governor Otti who gave the charge when he received the new state Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service, Ogbeifun Josephine Ighiwiyisi and her entourage who paid him a familiarization visit at Government House Umuahia, warned against acts capable of dehumanizing inmates.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba enjoined the new state controller of Nigeria Correctional Service to implement reformation and rehabilitation programs to enhance the reintegration of inmates back into the society.
“Many of those people there (in Correctional facilities) may not necessarily be criminals or criminally minded but circumstances may have forced them there.
“Irrespective of what might have taken them there, they are still human beings. Everyone that is detained is a human being and needs to be taken care of.” Gov Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive disclosed that his administration is fully committed to making sure that every Abian is taken care of and appreciated the State Command of Nigeria Correctional Service for the quality works they are doing in the state.
He further called on the new state controller of Nigeria Correctional Service and her team to contribute their own quota in driving the new narrative in Abia, support the fight against crime and criminality, make judicious use of resources at their disposal and promised to continue to support them and other federal agencies in the state.
“It is expected that you and your team should contribute your own quota in driving the new narrative in Abia and support the state government in making sure that as much as possible, the state is crime free,” Gov. Otti stated.
In her speech, the new state Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service, Ogbeifun Josephine Ighiwiyisi noted that the NCS is committed to their core mandate of conducting risk and needs assessment aimed at developing appropriate correctional treatment methods for reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates back into the society.
She thanked Governor Alex Otti for his numerous support to the state Correctional Services including the extension of solar powered lights to the facility, building of perimeter fence, proper erosion control in their premises among others, also solicited government’s support in tackling some of their challenges.
