NCoS To Engage In Massive Engagement On Non-custodial Measures

by Arinze Chijioke
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The Controller of Enugu Corrections centre, Mr Joseph Emelue, says that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) will engage in massive sensitization and engagement on non-custodial measures in Enugu State.

Emelue said this on Wednesday in Enugu while officially opening a three-day training for Non-Custodial Directorate of the NCoS, Enugu State Command and other sister agencies.

According to him, the NCoS will further step the training down to involve a broad spectrum of stakeholders and leaders of communities where the non-custodial measures such as community services will be implemented.

The controller said that for the non-custodial measures in the NCoS Act 2019 to be implemented; our stakeholders and indeed Nigerians must understand it and cooperate with the judicial system to make it work effectively.

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“For NCoS officers and officers of other sister security agencies being trained; I expect them to fully understand and gain expert knowledge on the non-custodial measures in the NCoS Act 2019.

“They must have good grapples of the concept and practicality of the non-custodial measures as officers in the field.

“This will further help reduce over-crowding in the custodial centres; ensuring people that commit minor offences are given commensurate reformative punishment within their communities and other benefits,’’ he said.

Emelue said that if all stakeholders and even communities key-in into the non-custodial measures of reformation, the change inherent within the NCoS Act would be achieved and “the society will be a better place for it’’.

He charged officers to take the training seriously and ask questions to get clarification on issues not understood from the seasoned resources persons for the training.

The controller, however, commended Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and its funding partner, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), for the training and being the catalyst for reforms in the NCoS.

Speaking, lead resource person, Justice Chinyere Ani, said that synergy among the NCoS, law enforcement agencies (especially the police) and the judiciary would be “highly necessary’’ to make the non-custodial measures work.

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Ani, who is administering justice at the Enugu State High Court, said that “there is a need to fully understand the concept of non-custodial measures; but there is also a need for will-power to implement it’’.

Mr Chioma Anuna, who represented the Executive-Director of PRAWA, thanked the NCoS and other sister agencies in the state for keying into training and need for reforms to better the society.

“PRAWA believes that with working together, implementation of non-custodial measures would be easy, popular and widely use; while the society will benefit immensely from it,’’ he said.

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Over 30 officers drawn from NCoS, Enugu State Command; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Federal Road Safety Corps; Enugu State Waste Management Agency as well as State Ministries of Environment and Health are attending the training.

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