Kuje Prison Inmates Debate Education, Vocational Skills as Command Promises Jobs After Release

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Federal Capital Territory Command, has pledged to facilitate employment opportunities for inmates upon their release, as the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, held its maiden debate competition to promote rehabilitation and prepare inmates for reintegration into society.

The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Peter Jen, disclosed this on Thursday during the competition, which saw two teams of inmates argue the merits of formal education and vocational skills acquisition, with the vocational skills team emerging victorious.

Jen said the command was partnering with relevant stakeholders and support organisations to secure employment opportunities for discharged inmates, in a move aimed at improving their prospects of rebuilding their lives outside the custodial facility.

He expressed optimism that inmates could rise to positions of leadership and responsibility if given the necessary support, education and opportunities to reform.

“An inmate today can be a governor or any high-ranking individual in society tomorrow, if properly reformed,” he said.

The Controller also commended the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for the opportunity to serve, saying it had strengthened his commitment to improving inmate rehabilitation and reformation across the FCT Command.

The Officer-in-Charge of the Kuje custodial centre, Assistant Controller of Corrections Adekunmi Sunday, said the debate was part of efforts to transform the facility into a centre for learning and reformation rather than one focused solely on confinement.

“Custody without training is punishment; custody with training is correction,” Sunday said.

He stressed that education and vocational training were critical to preparing inmates for life after incarceration, adding that he expected every inmate under his supervision to acquire at least one of the two.

The maiden competition featured two teams of five speakers each. Team A argued in favour of education, while Team B defended vocational skills acquisition. Following the contest, the panel of judges declared Team B the winner.

The debate was organised to develop inmates’ intellectual abilities, improve their confidence and encourage constructive interaction, while providing a platform for them to express and defend their ideas.

Representatives of partner organisations and support groups also delivered goodwill messages, commending the service for its commitment to inmate education and rehabilitation.

In a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of the officer-in-charge by Superintendent of Corrections Yusuf Muye, the centre appreciated the FCT Controller, partners, staff and inmates for their contributions to the event’s success.

The centre said the debate would become a regular feature of its reformation calendar.

The employment pledge comes amid broader efforts by correctional institutions to equip inmates with practical skills and improve their chances of reintegration after serving their sentences. However, the command did not disclose the number of inmates expected to benefit from the proposed employment initiative or identify the organisations involved in the partnership.

Kuje Prison Inmates Debate Education, Vocational Skills as Command Promises Jobs After Release

Cuba Accuses US of Pressuring Nations Ahead of UN Vote on Blockade

By: Michael Mike

Cuba has accused the United States of mounting a campaign of diplomatic pressure against countries supporting calls for an end to its decades-long economic blockade, alleging that Washington is seeking to influence the outcome of an impending United Nations General Assembly vote.

Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, made the allegation on Friday while condemning a US-organised event scheduled for October 19 at the UN headquarters in New York, which he described as an attempt to divert international attention from the debate on the blockade.

The Cuban diplomat alleged that the event, titled “Cuba Libre”, was part of a broader effort to weaken support for a Cuban-sponsored resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial restrictions imposed by Washington. The resolution is scheduled for consideration by the General Assembly on October 27 and 28.

Speaking to UN-accredited journalists, Soberón accused the US of using political and diplomatic pressure to influence the positions of member states ahead of the vote, including alleged direct appeals by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to heads of state and government.

He described the reported contacts as an attempt to interfere with the sovereign decisions of UN member states, insisting that countries should be allowed to determine their voting positions without intimidation.

The diplomat also questioned the format of the October 19 event, citing restrictions on press access, the non-disclosure of panellists’ identities and a prohibition on attendees expressing their views.

He argued that the arrangements suggested an attempt to control the narrative rather than facilitate an open exchange of perspectives on Cuba.

Soberón said the Cuban delegation had obtained copies of the invitation and concept note despite not being invited to the event.

He further questioned the use of UN premises for an activity he alleged was designed to advance Washington’s political objectives against another member state, citing administrative instruction ST/AI/2019/4 on the use of UN premises and the need for activities to comply with the principles of the UN Charter.

The Cuban representative also accused Washington of applying a double standard by organising the event while having outstanding contributions to the UN’s regular budget.

Beyond the diplomatic dispute, Soberón drew attention to the economic consequences of US sanctions, particularly measures affecting Cuba’s fuel supplies and international trade.

He recalled that US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29, 2026, introducing measures targeting countries supplying oil to Cuba, which he blamed for a sharp decline in fuel shipments to the island.

According to figures he presented, Cuba had received only one oil tanker from Russia in the preceding 10 months, describing the shipment as humanitarian assistance.

He also claimed that approximately 7,000 containers destined for Cuba remained at international ports because shipping companies were reluctant to transport them over fears of possible US sanctions.

Soberón linked the difficulties to further measures announced by Washington on May 1, 2026, which he said expanded the threat of sanctions against companies and countries maintaining commercial relations with Cuba.

He criticised the US-organised event for failing to address the reported impact of the restrictions on the Cuban economy and the living conditions of its population.

The Cuban government has consistently opposed the US embargo, which has remained a major point of contention between the two countries and has repeatedly featured in General Assembly debates.

Soberón maintained that the October 19 event should not distract the international community from the substantive question before the General Assembly: whether the United States should end its economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba.

He urged UN member states to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, resist political coercion and exercise their voting rights independently.

The United States has historically defended its Cuba policy on grounds including concerns over the island’s political system and human rights record, while Havana argues that the sanctions violate its sovereignty and impose severe economic hardship on its people.

The forthcoming General Assembly debate is expected to renew international scrutiny of the longstanding dispute.

Reaffirming Havana’s position, Soberón said Cuba would not change its stance because of external pressure, adding: “Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is.”

Cuba Accuses US of Pressuring Nations Ahead of UN Vote on Blockade

NAPTIP: Parents Selling Children for Sex Face Prosecution, Conviction

…Agency raises alarm over rising reports of child sexual abuse, warns parents against exposing children to suspected predators

By: Michael Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm over reports of parents and guardians allegedly handing their children over to men for sexual exploitation in exchange for money and other benefits, warning that anyone found culpable will face prosecution.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, said the agency was increasingly receiving reports of parents and guardians allegedly facilitating the sexual abuse of their children, describing the practice as an extreme betrayal of the trust and responsibility placed in them to protect minors.

Bello, who spoke in Abuja on Friday, vowed that the agency would intensify surveillance, investigations and prosecution to ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice.

Her warning followed the arrest in Abuja of a middle-aged woman, whose identity was withheld, over allegations that she gave out her teenage daughter to men for sexual pleasure in exchange for money.

The NAPTIP chief described the alleged conduct as a grave form of cruelty against a child, with potentially devastating consequences for the victim’s physical and psychological well-being, health and future.

“I am personally disturbed as a mother and as the Director-General of NAPTIP, by the reported cases of some parents aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of their children for monetary benefits,” she said.

“From the reports being logged both at the headquarters and in our commands across the country, it appears that this unhealthy development is on the increase.”

Bello said it was particularly troubling that individuals entrusted with the care and protection of children could allegedly become enablers of their exploitation.

“It is painful to know that the very person who is in a position of authority, either as a parent or guardian to protect and defend the child, and whom the child trusted so much, is the same person who either abuses or aids sexual assault on her,” she said.

She warned that NAPTIP would not tolerate the exploitation of children for financial gain, adding that the agency had strengthened its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and was working with other law enforcement agencies to facilitate prompt investigations and prosecutions.

“No excuse is tenable for this devilish act, and in line with our mandates, we shall not spare anyone found culpable in any abuse and sexual assault on children across the country,” Bello said.

The Director-General recalled that she had, months earlier, directed the agency’s commands nationwide to strengthen surveillance, improve rapid response mechanisms and ensure effective prosecution of cases involving child abuse and sexual assault.

She said the agency was reinforcing these measures in response to the reports reaching its headquarters and commands across the country.

Beyond parents and guardians, Bello warned that children could also be exposed to sexual predators through people who have access to their homes and daily routines, urging parents to exercise greater vigilance when engaging domestic workers and other service providers.

She specifically cautioned parents against failing to conduct proper background checks on gatekeepers, drivers, gardeners, school-run drivers and vendors who may have access to their children while the parents are away at work.

“I also wish to call on parents to be careful with the choice of servicemen and vendors who come around their houses when they are at work. It is important for all parents to carry out due diligence and proper profiling of their vendors so as not to give their children to a suspected paedophile who will continue to abuse them,” she said.

“Be careful with the choice of your gatekeepers, drivers, gardeners, and even the persons that do your school run. A lot of abuses are being carried out by suspected vendors and other known faces to the children.”

The agency urged parents and guardians to take their duty of care seriously, stressing that children must be protected from abuse by those who have access to them, whether within the family or outside it.

NAPTIP’s warning underscores the need for stronger child-protection measures, vigilance by caregivers and timely reporting of suspected abuse, as the agency pledges to pursue cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

NAPTIP: Parents Selling Children for Sex Face Prosecution, Conviction