The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) through training and skill acquisition programmes for inmates in custodial centres across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku made this known during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
In a statement made available to TPCN on Sunday, November 2, 2025, he noted that the partnership between the NDDC and the Correctional Service dates back several years, explaining that the Service has been included in key NDDC initiatives such as Operation Light Up the Niger Delta and Free Medical Services.
The NDDC boss assured that the Commission would explore more ways to involve inmates in its youth empowerment and capacity-building programmes.
“We have had a long-standing partnership with the Correctional Service, even before it transitioned from the Nigerian Prisons Service.
“Under our administration, we have extended the Operation Light Up the Niger Delta project to correctional facilities to ensure adequate illumination, as darkness fosters criminality. We are pleased that, since then, there have been no jailbreaks in the region.”
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He emphasized that inmates still possess fundamental human rights and deserve opportunities for personal development.
“To this end, the Commission will integrate inmates into its youth internship and vocational training programmes, selecting participants from its existing database to ensure sustainability.”
Responding to the Comptroller-General’s request for help in decongesting correctional centres, Ogbuku said the Commission would consider paying fines for inmates held over minor offences, after reviewing relevant legal frameworks.
“We are prepared to intervene and assist those who remain in custody simply because they cannot afford minimal court fines. These individuals are part of our society and deserve a second chance,” he stated.
Ogbuku also urged the Correctional Service leadership to root out officers involved in drug smuggling and other illicit activities within custodial centres.
In his remarks, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche commended Ogbuku and the NDDC management team for what he described as their impactful projects across the Niger Delta, noting that several correctional facilities have benefited from NDDC interventions.
“The NDDC has done a lot for our region. In my own community, we have seen tangible development projects executed by the Commission.”
He also appealed for deeper collaboration in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and skills development to further improve the welfare of inmates and correctional staff.
