The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has made history with the appointment of Controller of Corrections Beatrice Onyemaechi, as its first female Controller of Corrections.
Disclosing this on Thursday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, GT Isari, said Onyemaechi officially assumed office on Tuesday at the State Headquarters in Yenagoa during a handover ceremony where the outgoing Controller, CC Spiff B. Segun, transferred command documents, official assets and responsibilities before proceeding to his new posting as Controller of Corrections, Delta State Command.
The ceremony was witnessed by heads of departments and units, senior officers and other personnel of the Command.
In her inaugural address, Onyemaechi expressed gratitude to the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and the Service Management for the confidence reposed in her. She pledged to build on the achievements of her predecessors and reposition the Command for greater efficiency in line with the mandate of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
She said her administration would prioritise safe custody of inmates, respect for human rights, staff welfare, modernisation of custodial facilities, and the expansion of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
The new Controller also stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline, integrity and teamwork, noting that stronger collaboration with security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations and other stakeholders would be vital to achieving the Service’s objectives in Bayelsa State.
Before her deployment, Onyemaechi served as Officer-in-Charge of the Female Custodial Facility, Kirikiri, Lagos, where she spearheaded programmes on female inmate welfare and skills acquisition. She also served as Controller in Charge of Asset Management at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, overseeing the management of the Service’s assets and logistics.
A Fellow of the Security Institute (fsi), Onyemaechi brings years of experience in correctional administration, inmate welfare and custodial operations.
In his farewell remarks, the outgoing Controller, CC Spiff B. Segun, thanked officers and personnel of the Command for their support during his tenure and urged them to give the new Controller the same level of cooperation, describing her as a seasoned officer capable of taking the Command to greater heights.
The Nigerian Correctional Service said Onyemaechi’s appointment marks a new chapter for the Bayelsa State Command and reflects its commitment to inclusivity, professionalism and service excellence.
