Stakeholders Back Data System to Curb Inmate Neglect in Correctional Centres

Stakeholders Back Data System to Curb Inmate Neglect in Correctional Centres

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice sector have thrown their weight behind the deployment of a digital data system aimed at reducing cases of inmate neglect and improving accountability across correctional centres.

The support was expressed during a capacity-building training for correctional officers on the use of the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS), organised by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) in Abuja on Friday.

The training focused on equipping officers with the skills required to manage the digital platform, which is designed to replace manual record-keeping with a centralised database for tracking inmates and their cases.

Speaking at the session, the State Programme Manager of PPDC in Kaduna, Manasseh Akpa, said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise the Nigerian Correctional Service in line with global standards.

He explained that the system captures biometric and personal data of inmates from the point of admission and stores details of their cases, court appearances and other relevant information in a central database.

“The whole essence of this training is to equip correctional officers with the knowledge to manage the system. What we are trying to build is a national database where information of inmates across custodial centres is properly stored and easily accessed,” he said.

Akpa noted that the transition from manual processes to digital documentation would reduce errors, improve access to records and enhance overall efficiency in the system.

He added that the training is structured to enable participants transfer the knowledge to other officers in their respective facilities, ensuring wider adoption of the platform.

Also speaking, Programme Manager for Access to Justice under the Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria project, Vivian Akagha, said the system would help eliminate cases where inmates are forgotten in custody due to poor documentation.

“With this system, we are very certain that inmates will no longer be lost in the system. Everything about them—their data, their sentence, their court dates—can be tracked,” she said.

Akagha pointed out that weak record management in the past contributed to prolonged detention of some inmates beyond their lawful terms.

“Some people who were meant to spend a few months end up spending years because nobody tracked their cases. This system is designed to prevent that,” she added.

She disclosed that the system has already been deployed in selected states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Niger and Ebonyi, with plans for further expansion.

On her part, the Head of ICT and Innovation at the Nigerian Correctional Service Headquarters, Joy Edwards, said the introduction of the system has significantly improved administrative processes while also cutting operational costs.

“In the past, we relied on manual processes which were slow and cumbersome. Now, you can access information within minutes. Filing, classification and general administration have become much easier,” she said.

She added that the digital system has reduced the cost of running operations, noting that expenses associated with paper documentation, photocopying and movement between offices have dropped significantly.

“We no longer spend the way we used to. The cost of running the system has reduced because many of the processes are now handled digitally,” she said.

Edwards further explained that the system has enhanced coordination of court appearances, reducing delays and improving communication between correctional facilities and the judiciary.

“With better planning, we now know ahead of time when inmates are due in court, which reduces delays and improves the justice process,” she said.

Participants at the training stressed that beyond efficiency, the system would strengthen transparency and protect the rights of inmates by ensuring that accurate records are maintained and easily retrievable.

They expressed optimism that sustained use of the platform would help address long-standing challenges in the correctional system, particularly overcrowding and prolonged detention caused by administrative lapses.

The organisers said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the use of technology, improved data management and stronger institutional collaboration.