The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that effective inmate classification and the deployment of technology are essential for managing correctional centres across Africa.
Tunji-Ojo made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the opening of the Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification and the Use of Technology in Prison Settings in Africa.
The conference, themed “Prisoner Classification as the Foundation of Effective Prison Management,” aims to provide participating African countries with modern and practical strategies for safer, more efficient and rehabilitation-focused prison administration.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s correctional system, stressing that proper inmate classification goes beyond administrative requirements.
According to him, prisoner classification remains the cornerstone of humane, secure and rehabilitative prison management.
“We must leverage technology to enhance security, reduce recidivism and transform our correctional facilities into true centres of reformation,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr. Cheikh Toure, commended Nigeria’s ongoing prison reforms.
Toure reiterated the organisation’s support for the Nelson Mandela Rules and advocated the responsible use of digital technologies within prison environments.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA), Mr. Makgothi Thobakgale, called for stronger regional collaboration among African nations.
Thobakgale, who also serves as the National Commissioner of the South African Department of Correctional Services, noted that inmate classification is fundamental to effective prison administration.
“Through shared knowledge and technological innovation, we can build more resilient correctional systems that prioritise both public safety and offender rehabilitation across Africa,” he stated.
In the same vein, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, said the conference offered an important opportunity for stakeholders to embrace global best practices in corrections management.
“This conference provides a vital platform for us to adopt best practices in classification and technology deployment, as well as addressing overcrowding and improving rehabilitation outcomes in line with global standards,” Nwakuche said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference attracted heads of correctional services from several African countries, alongside international experts in the field.
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