#TrackNigeria: The Controller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Thursday said that reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders were important means of reducing insecurity in the nation.
Ahmed said that those means could also help them contribute their quota to national development, adding that it would also help them vacate the unemployment market, restoring their sense of self worth.
He made the remarks while presenting aftercare materials (trade tools) to 35 ex-offenders who had served their various jail terms.
Some of the aftercare materials presented to the ex-offenders
“One of the cardinal objectives for establishing the prisons service is to give hope to the rejected through training and exposure in sundry skills, including formal education in order to ease re-entry into the society.
“The NPS has impacted a number of offenders in this regards. Between 2016 and 2018, a total of 270 inmates have benefited from various training programmes.
“They have been trained in different vocations, such as shoemaking, hairdressing, fashion designing, wood and mental work while serving their terms,” he said.
The CGP noted that re-entry process had always been a source of challenge due to the unfriendly disposition of some members of the society to ex-convicts.
“There are cases of stigmatisation, deprivation and outright rejection from the society and in some cases, even from their immediate families.
“But with what we are doing today, it will ease reintegration as they would have been productively engaged in activities that will be of benefit to themselves and the society,” he added.
Ahmed urged the beneficiaries to effectively and efficiently utilise the materials provided by the Federal Government graciously, in order to add value to themselves and their communities.
He, however, urged members of the public to shun stigmatisation of ex-offenders, saying they should be encouraged and given the opportunity of second chance in life.
“This is one vital way to curb re-offending in order to make the society a safe place for everyone,” he added.
The controller-general distributed welding, hairdressing, tailoring and masonry tools to the ex-offenders. (NAN)
