FG has reiterated its commitment to transforming correctional services across Africa through technology, data-driven decision-making, institutional reforms, and stronger regional collaboration.
Speaking at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Conference on Prisoner Classification and the Use of Technology in Prison Settings in Africa on Wednesday, the Hon. Minister of Interior, Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, emphasized that modern correctional systems must change to meet the realities of the 21st century.
He commended the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA), the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and other partners for convening the regional conference. He described it as a critical platform for advancing common standards across Africa.
According to the Minister, “The approach to correctional service management in the 19th century cannot be the same as the 21st century,” “Technology is no longer optional—it is essential to building secure, efficient and humane correctional systems.”
He stressed that effective leadership begins with understanding problems before attempting to solve them. “We spend too much time prescribing solutions to problems we do not fully understand. If we devote adequate time to understanding the problem, the solution becomes much easier to implement.” he said.
He further challenged correctional leaders to focus on three fundamental questions in driving reform: identifying the problem, determining the appropriate solution and establishing a clear timeline for implementation.
Highlighting Nigeria’s recent reforms, the Minister disclosed that since the current administration assumed office, the country has recorded no successful prison attacks or jailbreaks, attributing this achievement to investments in digital transformation, improved data management and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
The Minister explained that digitizing inmate records, including biometric information and photographs, has significantly improved Nigeria’s ability to respond swiftly to security threats and track offenders. “This is the power of technology,” he said. “But technology alone is not enough. It will never replace human beings. Technology is only a catalyst that improves efficiency. Investment in technology must go hand in hand with investment in human capacity.”
The Minister urged African countries to integrate correctional services into their broader national security plans instead of treating them as separate institutions. He called for stronger information sharing among law enforcement agencies within countries and across borders to deny criminals safe havens anywhere on the continent.
“I look forward to an Africa where a criminal fleeing one country cannot simply find refuge in another because our systems are connected and our institutions collaborate.” he said.
Beyond security, the Minister advocated for a shift in the philosophy of corrections. He encouraged stakeholders to see correctional centres as institutions of rehabilitation rather than mere incarceration. “A correctional centre should be a place of transformation, rehabilitation, restoration, and hope—not simply a place of confinement.”
The Minister further urged African governments to strengthen legal frameworks governing borstal institutions and juvenile justice. He stressed that young offenders should never be housed alongside hardened criminals. “Our young people deserve an opportunity for rehabilitation, not a pathway into deeper criminality.”
He disclosed that Nigeria has significantly expanded educational and vocational opportunities for inmates. Thousands are currently enrolled in formal education, postgraduate programmes, vocational training, and skills development initiatives. These efforts, along with structured rehabilitation programmes, have contributed to a dramatic reduction in recidivism. This enables correctional facilities to become centres of productivity and personal transformation.
“There is nothing wrong in Africa that cannot be put right by Africans,” he said. “Let us become agents of transformation and work together to build correctional systems that strengthen justice, improve security, and restore hope.”
Declaring the conference open, the Honourable Minister called on African nations to embrace technology as an indispensable tool for transforming correctional administration and strengthening internal security.
Mrs. Mary Ali, anipr
Head, Press & Public Relations
15th July 2026
