NCoS empowers 120 inmates in Gombe

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it has trained 120 inmates in vocational skills in six custodial centres in Gombe State.

The Controller of Corrections, Mr Felix Agada, said this during the graduation ceremony of the inmates on Wednesday at Tula community in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state.

He said the initiative was of part of the mandate of the service to reform and rehabilitate inmates into better citizens upon their release from the centres.

“The aim of this skill acquisition is to achieve the Reformation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme of the service.

“This is to ensure that inmates become useful to themselves and the society at large after discharge to reduce the rate of crime among the youths in our communities,” he said.

Agada said the programme was being initiated and supported in collaboration with the state Chief Judge, Justice Halima Mohammed, and Smart Ideas Multi Consult Ltd.

He commended the state government’s support towards empowering the inmates and ensuring that they return to their communities with dignity upon serving out their jail terms.

Also, Justice Mohammed said her belief that everyone deserved opportunity to become better citizens moved her to initiate the programme.

She said that studies had shown that where well-structured rehabilitation and skill acquisition exist for inmates, crime rate drops drastically by more than half because “opportunity is the antidote to crime.

“In Nigeria, correctional centres were not designed to be the permanent destination; they are meant to be a bridge back into the society, not warehouse for human potential.

“Without skills, inmates who have served out their terms can not compete, without support they cannot stand, and without acceptance, they cannot start again,” she said.

Mohammed said the initiative was borne out of the need to ensure that every ex-inmate did not go back to crime but to become a “tax payer, business starter and an artisan.

“This is important because every ex inmate lost to the street is a child without a provider, community without peace and a country without productivity.”

She lauded the government’s role in reforming inmates, and stressed the need for societal support to effectively address the task of skilling every inmate while providing them with starter packs upon their release.

“Correctional reform is not a project, it’s a partnership, not a policy but a social contract; today’s fund raising is not charity but nation building, security management, economic investment and a moral duty.”

The judge therefore advocated for collective support to empower inmates with the right skills and tools.

According to Mohammed, investment in that regard is an investment in safer streets, stronger families and a more hopeful country.

Mr Musa Nelson, Head of Skills Acquisition Programmes, NCoS, said the inmates were exposed to carpentry, tailoring, fashion design, cosmetology, shoe and bags making, laundry, barbing and make up.

He said the inmates would be provided with starter packs after their six-month training exercise.

Some of the inmates commended the gesture and urged stakeholders to assist them with the required tools in line with their area of training to enable them to set up their businesses.

Coup D’etat: Odumegwu-Ojukwu Calls for Defence of Constitution Order

….Challenges ECOWAS to Meet Yearnings of Youth

By: Michael Mike

Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has called on members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to remain steadfast in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that reinforce stability.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who also called
for the acceleration of economic integration in the sub-region, challenged ECOWAS to meet the yearning of the regional youth who are looking up to the regional body to create opportunities for them.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Minister in Abuja.

The Nigeria’s minister while noting that as ECOWAS is still basking in the euphoria of the golden jubilee celebration, the Regional body must confront its challenges headlong.

She identified the recent surge in military take over, banditry and kidnappings as some of the challenges.

According to her: “Recent years have witnessed political instability and lack of inclusivity, including forceful unconstitutional changes of government, deliberate prolonged transitions, and governance uncertainties and deficits in a number of Member States. These situations challenge not only the democratic values to which we have all subscribed, but also threaten hard-won development gains. They undermine citizen confidence and weaken the regional cohesion that has defined ECOWAS for half a century.

“We must therefore remain steadfast in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that reinforce stability. Our unity and collective resolve are essential to navigating these periods of uncertainty.”

She added: “At the heart of ECOWAS lies the aspiration for economic integration that delivers tangible benefits for our community citizens. It is this ideal of shared markets, interconnected infrastructure, increased mobility, and coordinated development that inspired our founding fathers to establish the regional body and has guided our Community since 1975.

“Today more than ever, we must accelerate these efforts. Our region’s future depends on deepening intra-regional trade, strengthening value chains, facilitating investments, and creating opportunities for the over 400 million people, especially the young people of 25 years and below who constitute about 65% of the population. They no doubt rely on ECOWAS to chart a path toward progress.”

She also noted the ECOWAS at 50 celebration that is still running, offered an opportunity to reflect deeply on our achievements over the past five decades.

“We celebrated the establishment of free movement, significant trade and economic integration frameworks, regional peacekeeping leadership, improved cooperation in critical sectors from health to infrastructure, and ongoing efforts to address the problems of insecurity in the region. Our accomplishments stand as a powerful testament to the vision of our founders, who understood that West Africa’s greatest strength is forged through unity, solidarity, and collective progress. Moving forward, we are inspired to reach even higher, nurturing a region defined by peace, prosperity, and limitless possibilities for generations to come.”

She therefore reminded the gathering that their insights and decisions will be instrumental in shaping the recommendations to be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

On his part, the Sierra Leonian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Timothy Kabba stressed the need to be persistent in the integration efforts.

Kabba who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS Council of Ministers said: “We must persist in our effort to foster an environment conducive to the growth of the private sector, the principal catalyst of the economic integration agenda. While it is acknowledged that integration may sometimes invoke complex sovereignty issues, it is ultimately advantageous to all Member States.

“Furthermore, it is imperative that we demonstrate a robust commitment to the promotion and enhancement of trade within the subregion.”

He also lamented the current trade gaps in the sub-region, describing it as the lowest when compared to other regions of the world.

He therefore called for the resuscitation of all trade mechanisms to boost intra-regional trade and investment.

According to him: “The current percentage of intra-regional trade lags behind that of other regions. To address this disparity, we should utilize existing mechanisms to foster greater regional economic collaboration, such as the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme, the ECOWAS investment code, improve transport and energy connectivity, and promote digital transformation as a catalyst for innovation.

“In addition, we must address non-tariff barriers, modernize and operationalize brotherhoods, and improve the joint border management process. We must also prepare our region to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which directly advances our internal integration agenda.”

Speaking on the current security and political situation in the region, Kabba said: “They can only be resolved through enhanced cooperation and mutual understanding among our member states. “Consequently, we must assist in investing in peace and security initiatives both through joint border operations, joint intelligence cooperation, and mediation efforts, activate the ECOWAS Standard Force, and provide support to member states facing threat.
“In addition, it is essential to ensure that diligent diplomacy, strategic leadership, political dialogue, military cooperation, and development assistance are integrated effectively to address the root causes and foster long-term resilience and sustainability.”

He charged members of the council of ministers to “seize this opportunity to reflect on the broader security and governance challenges confronting our region, and to renew our collective determination to safeguard peace, protect democratic institutions, and ensure that the aspirations of our peoples for stability and development are not derailed.
Our region has endured too many disruptions to democratic order.
“Let us stand together firmly and in solidarity to defend the principles of democracy, transparency, and the people’s right to choose their leaders.”

Coup D’etat: Odumegwu-Ojukwu Calls for Defence of Constitution Order

Katampe Residents Call on Wike to Intervene in Illegal Extortion

By: Michael Mike

Residents of Katampe Extension in Abuja have been sent into panic as a group of thugs, in the company of some gun-toting policemen, raided the district.

Residents alleged that the thugs and armed men went on a rampage, indiscriminately catching and bundling gatekeepers manning residential gates into their truck and driving off, for no offence, leaving the residences unsecured with some gates left wide open.

The residents sounded the alarm over what they described as the unlawful and dangerous campaign by the Bwari Area Council to extort money from them under the guise of enforcing payment for radio and television licenses, calling for the immediate intervention of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, the Inspector General of Police and the Judicial Service Commission to avert a total break down of law and order in the district.

A statement signed by the Katampe Extension Residents Association President, Mohammed Gimba, described the situation as “bizarre”, noting that supposed agents and officials of the Bwari Area Council are resorting to self-help and taking the law into their own hands.

He described a situation where law-abiding citizens performing their legitimate duties in a private residential building are summarily rounded up like common criminals and imprisoned by officials of the council, as a breach of their fundamental human rights and a flagrant disregard of law and order.

The chairman said: “What we have currently is a situation whereby bystanders, private security men and house helps are being randomly arrested and detained by council officials with the aid of the police, instead of the homeowners. This is impunity and an illegality taken too far.”

He noted that, under Nigerian law, specifically the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, a person can only be arrested or detained if there’s reasonable suspicion of their involvement in a crime (Section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999, and Section 7 of ACJA). The police don’t have the authority to detain someone just because they’re related to or are the employee of a suspect.

He said: “The law doesn’t allow for ‘substitutional’ detention. More worrisome is the fact that the contentious issue of radio and TV license fees being demanded by the Bwari area council is purely a civil matter for which the district is collectively seeking legal interpretation against the background that the Abuja Municipal Area Council recently suspended the imposition of the said levy. In any case, Katampe extension falls within the Abuja Municipal Area Council and not Bwari Area Council. The escalating harassment, which has led to arrests and illegal detentions, is an attack on residents’ rights.”

The chairman said Katampe Extension has no visible project by the Bwari area council, wondering why the council is on a desperate mission to extort money from residents of the district under the guise of radio and television license, which he described as “disturbing”, particularly because the levies are to be paid into the accounts of a private company not that of the Bwari area council.

He contended that, “In a community where people are simply trying to live peacefully, these actions create fear, disrupt lives, and smack of extortion rather than lawful revenue collection.”

“In view of the above, we urge the Bwari Area Council to immediately halt these aggressive actions and engage in constructive dialogue with Katampe Extension residents. Clear explanations of the legal basis for these demands, coupled with a more consultative approach, would foster trust rather than fear. Residents are willing to engage, but they will not silently endure harassment,” the statement said.

The statement also called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to call the chairman of Bwari Area Council to order, to forestall a situation that can lead to total breakdown of law and order in Katampe Extension district, as a result of the misguided and illegal activities of Bwari council officials.