The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has recorded a landmark achievement with the release of 10 inmates on parole in Abia State, marking the first implementation of the parole provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
The NCoS in a statement on Monday, signed by its spokesperson, Jane Osuji, said parolees were formally released at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Umuahia, in what officials described as a major step in advancing rehabilitation, reintegration, restorative justice, and custodial decongestion across the country.
TheFact Daily reports that the parole system, introduced under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, allows carefully selected inmates serving custodial sentences to complete part of their terms under supervised reintegration in the community.
Although the law has been in force since 2019, the Abia exercise represents its first practical application, making the state the pioneer of parole administration in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Controller-General of Corrections, CGC Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, the Zonal Coordinator and Assistant Controller-General of Corrections, Ngozi Okeke, described the event as a defining moment in Nigeria’s correctional history and a significant milestone in the implementation of the reform-oriented provisions of the Act.
According to the Controller-General, parole is a globally recognised correctional mechanism that enables deserving inmates to gradually reintegrate into society under supervision while ensuring public safety and accountability.
He said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to modern correctional practices that balance justice with rehabilitation.
Nwakuche noted that the commencement of parole administration is expected to reduce recidivism, strengthen offender rehabilitation, enhance community reintegration, and ease overcrowding in custodial centres nationwide.
He commended the Abia State Command for pioneering the initiative and praised the Abia State Parole Board, the judiciary, and other criminal justice stakeholders for their collaboration in making the programme a reality.
The Controller-General also acknowledged the contributions of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), the International IDEA Programme, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ROLAC), and other development partners whose support has helped advance correctional reforms and offender reintegration efforts in Nigeria.
In her welcome address, the Controller of Corrections, Abia State Command, Nwanyanwu Blessing Ifeoma, described the event as evidence of the Service’s commitment to rehabilitation-focused corrections and thanked stakeholders for their support throughout the parole process.
Chairman of the Abia State Parole Board, Justice Obisike Oji, stressed that parole is neither a pardon nor clemency, but a structured correctional measure designed to facilitate the supervised reintegration of deserving inmates.
He urged the beneficiaries to remain law-abiding and contribute positively to their communities.
The ceremony featured goodwill messages from justice sector stakeholders, including PRAWA President, Professor Uju Agomoh, who commended the Nigerian Correctional Service for operationalising one of the most significant provisions of the 2019 Act.
A major highlight was the formal release of the 10 parolees drawn from the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Aba and Umuahia, as well as the Custodial Centre in Arochukwu.
To support their reintegration, the beneficiaries received empowerment packages, including sewing machines, vocational tools, other livelihood items, and financial assistance for transportation and resettlement through the support of PRAWA, IDEA, and ROLAC.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, one of the parolees expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Parole Board, and partner organisations for giving them a second chance to rebuild their lives.
The Controller-General also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, employers, civil society organisations, and community members to support the reintegration of parolees and ex-offenders, stressing that successful reintegration is vital to reducing reoffending and enhancing public safety.
He described the successful implementation of parole in Abia State as the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s correctional administration and a reaffirmation of the Service’s commitment to a humane, rehabilitation-driven, and community-focused correctional system.
