By Ibironke Ariyo
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has called for community support and backing for reformed ex-inmates.
The Controller, FCT Command, Mr Christopher Jen, made the call while handing over an ex-inmate, Abdulkadir Mohammed to the Aguma of Gwagwalada to facilitate his reintegration into society.
During the handover ceremony, Jen described community acceptance as critical to the success of rehabilitation efforts.
He said that the ex-inmates, a native of Gwagwalada, recently completed a four-year, four-month custodial sentence, during which he underwent vocational training in shoe-making.
“To support his transition to independent living, the NCoS provided him with a shoe filing machine to establish a small-scale enterprise,”he said,
Jen urged the traditional institution and the wider community to provide the ex-inmate with a workspace to practise his trade.
He however, stressed that practical support would enhance his chances of becoming self-reliant.
He also cautioned against stigmatisation of ex-offenders, noting that such attitudes could undermine the gains of correctional programmes.
“This handover underscores our shared goal of turning custodial sentences into opportunities for transformation.
“We urge communities to embrace reformed individuals and support them in building productive lives,” he added.
In his response, Mr Bala Waziri, representing the Aguma of Gwagwalada, lauded the NCoS for its commitment to rehabilitation and pledged the community’s support for Mohammed.
Waziri also commended the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, for his leadership in advancing correctional reforms across the country.
He said the Service had continued to live up to its mandate, adding that greater public cooperation was essential to sustaining societal safety.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a symbolic demonstration of his reformation, Mohammed presented a pair of shoes he produced while in custody to the Aguma of Gwagwalada.
NAN reports that the initiative forms part of NCoS’s broader strategy to strengthen rehabilitation through vocational training and partnerships, with the aim of reducing recidivism and promoting safer communities.
