The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on African countries to accelerate the digital transformation of their correctional systems.
Tunji-Ojo explained that technology, integrated data sharing and human capacity development are critical to improving prison administration, enhancing security and reducing recidivism across the continent.
The minister made the call while declaring open the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ACSA Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification and the Use of Technology in Prison Settings in Africa, attended by heads of correctional and prison services from across Africa, representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), members of the diplomatic corps and other international stakeholders.
Tunji-Ojo described the conference as a vital platform for advancing correctional reforms through innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The minister argued that correctional systems must evolve with changing realities, noting that prison management approaches of the 19th century can no longer meet the demands of the 21st century.
According to him, effective leadership begins with understanding problems before prescribing solutions.
“We spend too much time trying to solve problems we do not fully understand,” he said, adding that governments should devote greater attention to analysing challenges before implementing reforms.
Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Government prioritised understanding weaknesses within the correctional system before embarking on reforms, resulting in significant improvements in prison security.
He disclosed that since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria has not recorded any prison attacks or jailbreaks, attributing the achievement largely to improved data management and digital reforms.
The minister explained that one of the major challenges encountered upon assumption of office was the absence of comprehensive inmate records.
He recalled that during an early prison break, authorities struggled to provide biometric information, photographs and other identifying details of fleeing inmates to security agencies because records were largely paper-based.
he said security agencies are now able to access complete biometric profiles within hours, significantly improving the ability to recapture escaped inmates.
Describing data as “the new oil,” Tunji-Ojo stressed that sound decision-making depends on reliable information, warning that countries unable to effectively collect, manage and utilise data would continue to face security vulnerabilities.
The minister cautioned that digital tools alone cannot guarantee success without adequately trained personnel.
“Technology will never replace human beings,” he said, emphasising that technology merely accelerates operational efficiency and must be complemented by continuous investment in human capacity development.
Tunji-Ojo also called for stronger integration of correctional services into national security architecture, arguing that prisons should not operate in isolation from law enforcement and other internal security agencies.
He cited Nigeria’s integrated security database as a model, recalling an incident where an inmate attempted to obtain a Nigerian passport.
According to him, the integrated biometric system immediately identified the applicant as a serving inmate, enabling immigration authorities to alert correctional officials and prevent the fraudulent passport application.
He said such interoperability demonstrates the importance of information sharing among security institutions and urged African countries to establish interconnected national databases capable of supporting regional intelligence exchange.
The minister further advocated the development of continental information-sharing mechanisms that would deny criminals safe havens across African borders.
He envisioned a future where fugitives escaping one African country could be identified and apprehended seamlessly in another through shared biometric and correctional databases.
Beyond security, Tunji-Ojo urged correctional administrators to embrace a rehabilitation-focused philosophy, saying correctional centres should serve as institutions of transformation rather than mere incarceration.
He revealed that Nigeria has significantly expanded educational and vocational opportunities for inmates.
According to him, 62 inmates are currently pursuing postgraduate programmes, while 261 are enrolled in undergraduate studies. He added that 1,125 inmates are participating in formal education, with 18 National Open University study centres established within correctional facilities.
he disclosed that over 9,500 inmates are engaged in vocational and non-formal training programmes aimed at equipping them with employable skills before release.
The minister said Nigeria also introduced inmate skills profiling to identify prisoners with existing vocational expertise and enable them to train fellow inmates, thereby preserving professional competencies and encouraging positive engagement within correctional facilities.
These reforms, he said, have contributed significantly to reducing recidivism.
According to Tunji-Ojo, annual recidivism figures dropped from approximately 13,000 inmates in 2023 to about 1,000 last year, representing a dramatic decline achieved through education, skills development and rehabilitation initiatives.
He also advocated reforms to juvenile justice systems, urging African governments to establish appropriate legal frameworks and ensure that young offenders are separated from hardened criminals.
Mixing juveniles with adult offenders, he warned, undermines rehabilitation efforts and exposes vulnerable young people to greater criminal influences.
The minister equally called for wider adoption of non-custodial sentencing measures for minor offences.
He disclosed that a review conducted after he assumed office revealed that thousands of inmates remained in correctional facilities simply because they were unable to pay relatively small fines.
Following government intervention, over 4,000 such inmates were released, resulting in a five per cent reduction in prison congestion within a single day.
He argued that incarceration should be reserved for offences warranting imprisonment, while community service and other alternative sentencing options should be expanded to reduce overcrowding and improve correctional outcomes.
Tunji-Ojo further urged African governments to periodically review and modernise their correctional laws in line with international best practices, maintaining that outdated legal frameworks often undermine effective prison administration.
“There is no right way of implementing a bad law,” he stated, calling on correctional leaders to work closely with legislators in strengthening legal and institutional frameworks.
The minister commended UNODC, ACSA and the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for supporting correctional reforms across Africa, describing the conference as an important step towards developing common standards and coordinated responses to criminal justice challenges on the continent.
He concluded by urging correctional leaders to approach reform through three guiding questions: identifying the problem, determining the appropriate solution and establishing a clear implementation timeline.
Tunji-Ojo said the continent possesses the expertise and leadership required to build stronger institutions capable of delivering justice, rehabilitation and lasting public safety.
