The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is exploring a collaborative project aimed at enhancing food security, improving inmates’ welfare, and promoting sustainable agribusiness models.
The NCos, through its Public Relations Unit, on Friday, disclosed that it is working with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) on the project.
The NCos said that the proposed project, which was discussed during a meeting at it headquarters in Abuja, aims to leverage the Service’s vast land resources, manpower, and security infrastructure to establish thriving agricultural projects in custodial centres across the country.
In his remarks during the meeting, the Controller General of Corrections, Slyvester Nwakuche, emphasized the Service’s readiness to explore innovative approaches to rehabilitation and self-sufficiency, saying that “the NCoS has the land capacity, manpower, and security to make this project a success”.
The Founder of PRAWA and head of delegation, Dr. Uju Agomoh, stated that the initiative is aimed at turning the vast NCoS farmlands into viable agro-hubs. The NIRSAL team lead, Panam David Agboh, on the other hand, provided insight into risk management in agriculture, facilitation, and financing options.
The agency’s flagship programs, including the Agro-Geo-Cooperatives (AGC) concept, Backward Integration Model, NIRSAL Aggregated Land-Estate Development (NALED), and Service to Enterprise in Agriculture (SEA), are being considered for replication in NCoS custodial centres.
The proposed project draws inspiration from success stories from African countries such as Zambia, Malawi, and Burkina Faso, where correctional farms have achieved self-sufficiency in food production, supplying produce to national markets, and improving inmate rehabilitation outcomes.
“With this collaborative effort, the Service is poised to revolutionize agriculture in custodial centres, enhancing the rehabilitation process and promoting sustainable development”, the statement read.
