The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on African countries to embrace technology, integrated data systems and regional collaboration to modernise correctional services, improve prison security and strengthen rehabilitation across the continent.
He made the call while declaring open the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) African Correctional Services Association (ACSA) Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification and the Use of Technology in Prison Settings in Africa, held in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo said correctional institutions must embrace digital transformation to effectively respond to emerging security challenges, noting that technology and reliable data have become indispensable tools for modern prison management.
The minister also highlighted the government’s rehabilitation drive, revealing that 62 inmates are pursuing postgraduate programmes, 261 are enrolled in undergraduate studies, 1,125 are receiving formal education through 18 National Open University study centres in correctional facilities, while over 9,500 inmates are undergoing vocational and skills training.
He added that recidivism dropped from about 13,000 inmates in 2023 to roughly 1,000 last year.
Tunji-Ojo further advocated non-custodial sentencing for minor offences, noting that the release of more than 4,000 inmates unable to pay small fines reduced prison congestion by five per cent in a single day. He urged African governments to modernise correctional laws and strengthen cross-border information sharing to combat crime.
Earlier, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche MFR mni welcomed delegates to Abuja, describing the conference as a demonstration of Africa’s shared commitment to strengthening correctional administration through innovation, collaboration and professional exchange.
Quoting the late Nelson Mandela, Nwakuche said prisons are a reflection of a nation’s commitment to justice, human dignity and the rule of law.
He stressed that correctional facilities should serve not only as places of custody but also as centres for rehabilitation, reformation and successful reintegration.
He also noted that effective prisoner classification remains a strategic tool for enhancing security, protecting vulnerable inmates, deploying resources efficiently and delivering targeted rehabilitation programmes, while technology has become critical for improving record management, accountability and informed decision-making.
Nwakuche added that Nigeria’s correctional reforms, driven by the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, continue to modernise prison administration.
He urged delegates to use the conference and planned learning visits to Nigerian correctional facilities to exchange ideas, share best practices and develop practical solutions to common challenges facing correctional systems across Africa.
The UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, described the conference as a timely platform for advancing professional prison management and strengthening correctional systems across Africa through innovation and cooperation.
He commended the Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Correctional Service, ACSA and the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for supporting the initiative, noting that the conference comes ahead of Nelson Mandela International Day and reinforces the principles of the Nelson Mandela Rules, the global benchmark for the treatment of prisoners.
Toure said African governments are increasingly recognising correctional institutions as key pillars of justice, human rights, rehabilitation and public safety rather than mere places of detention.
He stressed that effective prisoner classification helps correctional authorities make informed decisions on inmate placement, supervision, rehabilitation and risk management while protecting vulnerable prisoners.
He further noted that technology can significantly improve accountability, efficiency and evidence-based decision-making in correctional administration.
According to him, sustainable prison reform depends on regional cooperation, peer learning and the exchange of African-led solutions, urging delegates to share experiences and develop practical strategies that promote professionalism, rehabilitation and respect for human dignity across the continent.
