FG Unveils Plan to Turn Inmates into Productive Farmers, Boost Food Supply

FG Unveils Plan to Turn Inmates into Productive Farmers, Boost Food Supply

The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to transform inmates across the country into productive farmers, in a move aimed at boosting food supply, enhancing rehabilitation, and driving economic growth.

The initiative, anchored on strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), is part of ongoing reforms to reposition Nigeria’s correctional system as a hub for productivity, skills acquisition, and reintegration.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on optimizing correctional farm centres and industries, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the new direction reflects the government’s commitment to aligning correctional services with national development priorities, particularly food security.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Magdalene Ajani, the minister noted that correctional centres must evolve beyond custodial functions into institutions that equip inmates with practical, income-generating skills.

“Correctional centres must evolve into institutions of transformation; where inmates are equipped with practical skills and opportunities that enable them to become productive members of society upon release,” she said.

Ajani explained that the government would deepen collaboration with development partners and organisations such as HOPE Behind Bars Africa to expand existing interventions across correctional facilities nationwide.

She described PPPs as critical to unlocking the full potential of correctional farm centres, noting that private sector investment and innovation would help modernise agricultural practices, improve productivity, and establish viable agro-processing value chains.

According to her, the plan is to reposition correctional farm centres as centres of excellence in modern agriculture, contributing significantly to national food production while also supporting inmate rehabilitation.

Also speaking, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, said the Service had already made progress in integrating agriculture into correctional programmes.

He disclosed that the Service currently operates 18 farm centres and 10 cottage industries across the country, with activities spanning crop production, livestock, fisheries, and poultry.

“These initiatives not only support inmate welfare but also serve as platforms for skills development and productivity,” he said, adding that stronger partnerships with the private sector would further enhance output and sustainability.

Stakeholders at the engagement, including representatives of government, private sector, and civil society organisations, stressed the need for actionable and scalable models that would ensure tangible results.

In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah, called for improved accountability and innovation in managing correctional farm centres.

He emphasised that agriculture remains a critical driver of economic growth and national security, urging stakeholders to move beyond dialogue to concrete implementation.

The initiative aligns with the broader reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises institutional strengthening, economic productivity, and sustainable development.

Participants were urged to leverage partnerships to transform correctional facilities into engines of productivity, reduce recidivism, and enhance community safety, as the government reiterated that sustained investment and collaboration are essential to building a humane and development-oriented correctional system.