The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) is moving forward with plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Livestock Development in a bid to boost productivity and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The partnership is aimed at utilizing the skills and labor of inmates, who are being trained to become self-sufficient and to actively contribute to livestock development once they complete their sentences.
According to the NCoS public relations officer, Umar Abubakar, the Service has incorporated farming, livestock development, and other agricultural ventures into its reformatory programs.
These efforts are designed to improve the personal development of inmates and equip them with skills that can help them reintegrate into society as productive individuals.
In line with this initiative, the Acting Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, recently visited the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, in Abuja.
The visit focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration, particularly in harnessing the vast farm lands owned by the NCoS. The aim is to transform these lands into viable economic hubs that can generate increased agricultural output.
Abubakar further explained that the NCoS is already running agricultural projects and activities across the country and is now seeking a partnership with the Ministry to improve the productivity of its farm centers.
These initiatives are intended to provide inmates with valuable skills and help them build a foundation for a productive life after their release.
In response, the Minister of Livestock Development expressed strong support for the collaboration, acknowledging the valuable resources within the NCoS agricultural programs, including secure farmlands and available labor.
He commended the leadership of the Acting Controller-General and pledged the Ministry’s full support in helping to bring this partnership to life, with the aim of benefiting both the correctional system and Nigeria’s agricultural sector.