Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku says the commission will accommodate inmates of Nigerian Correctional Service in human capacity development and skills acquisition programmes of NDDC.
DR. Ogbuku who made this known while receiving the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service and his entourage at NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt Rivers State, told the Delegation that the commission has captured the service in her Light up Niger Delta programme.
The Managing Director who expressed worry over the number of awaiting trial inmates, called on the Judiciary to expedite trial of in mates to decongest the custodial centers.
“We will look at enabling laws to see if it is an area we can come in to pay fines for inmates as a way to decongest the custodial centers.
These inmates are also from the region, that is part of the things that the commission will do for them. So, we will look at how we can also handle our own aspect of the effort to decongest the Correctional facilities.”
He stated that the commission would assist in paying of fines and fulfillment of release conditions of those who were unable to fulfill their bail conditions, to help set them at liberty.
While commending the Minister of Interior for innovations in the ministry the NDDC helmsman advised the service to take off bad eggs within the service that aid drugs peddling among inmates.
Addressing the MD and management team earlier on, Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche acknowledged that NDDC has been of help to the service through the Minister of Interior.
Mr. Nwakuche called for collaboration between NDDC and the service to help rehabilitate inmates, give them needed training in different skills that would enable them become self reliant at the end of their jail terms.
“NDDC has impacted the lives of the community of which I represent, a Community that has been ignored, but when you came on board, NDDC has seen that community as one of them.”
“You have provided some amenities in almost all our custodial facilities, through the interaction of the synergy that exists between my agency from the Minister of Interior.”
The Controller of Corrections who explained that efforts were being made to transform the lives of inmates, revealed that they sit for JAMB, gain admission, graduate and study upto doctorate degree.
