From Victor Osula, Abuja
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules.
The Nelson Mandela Rules are United Nations Standard Minimum Rules adopted for the treatment of prisoners.
The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, made the commitment during a project exhibition by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Mandela Rules
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Friday, brought together high-level government officials, diplomats, human rights advocates, and correctional experts to reflect on a decade of progress in promoting humane and dignified treatment of persons deprived of liberty. It also served as a call to action for governments and correctional institutions worldwide to consolidate gains, close remaining gaps, and invest in correctional systems that are just, humane, and transformative.
In his remarks, CG Nwakuche commended the long-standing support of the UNODC in the ongoing NCoS reforms and noted that the Service has continued to embrace programs centred on inmate welfare, rights-based rehabilitation, and staff professionalism.
The Director of Joint Services, Nasiru Usman, who was represented by Barrister. Babatunde Ogundare, the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Interior on Correctional Service Reforms, commended the efforts of UNODC in enhancing the mandate of NCoS in line with the vision of the Minister of Interior to restore hope behind bars.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Honourable Chinedu Ogah, emphasised the National Assembly’s commitment to legislative backing for correctional reforms.
“We are keen on ensuring that correctional facilities in Nigeria meet international standards, not only through oversight but through laws that promote accountability, funding, and the rights of inmates and officers alike, and the UNODC has been greatly impactful in this regard”, he said.
The UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, in his reflections, gave an overview of the project conducted in the key focal areas, which include Adamawa, Maiduguri and Gombe, and called for prioritisation of non-custodial alternatives, electronic monitoring and expedited trials in line with the Tokyo Rules, as overcrowding is a human rights crisis. He also called for enhanced staff welfare, training and upskilling to drive the reforms.
A major highlight of the gathering was the presentation and discussion of a comprehensive prison audit report on six custodial centres across the North-East geopolitical zone, conducted by the UNODC.
The audit focused on critical areas such as living conditions, healthcare services, overcrowding, access to legal support, staff capacity, and compliance with international standards.
The Controller General also toured the UNODC exhibition stands showcasing project achievements, capacity development interventions, and support tools provided to the Nigerian Correctional Service in the areas of prison reform, data management, and human rights compliance.
