The federal government has called for stronger public-private partnerships to drive sustainable reforms across correctional centres.

Interior minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the call in Abuja on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ dialogue on optimising correctional farm centres and expanding PPP pathways for inmate rehabilitation and reintegration.

The dialogue was organised by Hope Behind Bars Africa in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service, with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme, funded by the European Union and International IDEA.

The minister commended HBBA for its impactful interventions in correctional centres. He said HBBA was working in at least four custodial institutions, and the government was seeking to deepen and expand the collaboration through structured partnerships.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said that with partnerships, correctional farm centres would  be transformed into a productive agricultural hub not just to feed inmates but also to equip them with skills to contribute meaningfully to society upon release.”

The comptroller-general of the NCOS, Sylvester Nwakuche, said the prison service was undergoing reforms to reposition facilities as centres of reformation. According to him, NCOS operates 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries, alongside multiple agricultural projects nationwide, which support food production and skills training.

Nwakuche stressed that PPP would enhance productivity, modernise operations, and improve reintegration outcomes.

He expressed hope that the dialogue would examine practical models, share experiences, and identify actionable pathways to optimise correctional farm centres.

The executive director of HBBA, Funke Adeoye, said the ‘Farming Justice Project’, which began in 2014, integrated agriculture with inmate reformation, addressing food insecurity and reducing reoffending.

According to her, the initiative has since moved from concept to implementation through collaboration with NCOS, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, funded by the European Union and International IDEA.

She said the project operated across multiple custodial centres, including Dukpa, Kuje, Kirikiri Female, and Oko facilities, engaging inmates in structured programmes focused on behavioural reform, financial literacy, and agricultural production.

She disclosed that the programme has reached hundreds of direct beneficiaries, including inmates and correctional officers across Edo, Abuja, and Lagos, with wider indirect impacts on families, communities, and local food systems.

She noted that some correctional facilities were already generating income by selling farm produce to surrounding communities, while inmates were gaining skills that support reintegration after release.

She revealed that the initiative addressed two critical issues: food insecurity within custodial centres and recidivism.

Ms Adeoye said that the dialogue would aid in refining and strengthening the training framework for wider adoption and in identifying practical strategies for maximising farm centre productivity, efficiency, and governance.

She added that it would explore PPP models that clearly define the roles of government, the private sector, and civil society in scaling this work.

She commended the leadership of NCOS and the Ministry of Interior for embracing partnerships with non-state actors, noting that such collaboration was backed by provisions in the NCOS Act 2019.

Representative of ROLAC, Danladi Plang, underscored the importance of partnerships in addressing challenges within the criminal justice system.

Mr Plang noted that collaboration between government and non-state actors provides essential resources, expertise, and innovation needed to drive sustainable reform.

(NAN)