ABUJA — The Federal Government has announced plans to deploy solar mini-grids across several custodial centres in Nigeria, aiming to enhance inmates’ welfare, provide consistent electricity, power security equipment, and prevent security breaches within correctional facilities.
Additionally, the solar grids will be extended to power farm centres operated by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
This development was disclosed over the weekend during a meeting in Abuja between the Controller General of the NCoS, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu.
Nwakuche, who has been engaging with key agencies to foster partnerships, emphasized that collaboration with the REA would significantly aid the correctional service and empower inmates with vital, lifelong skills.
“I am here to seek your cooperation in bringing light to our facilities — a community often overlooked. Custodial centres are vibrant communities with both the guilty and those awaiting trial. Anyone could find themselves there tomorrow,” Nwakuche said.
Highlighting that correctional facilities now offer educational programs up to the PhD level, he stressed that consistent power supply is crucial for fostering rehabilitation and skill acquisition.
He proposed starting with two or three custodial centres per geopolitical zone and offered manpower and land resources within the centres to support the mini-grid projects.
In his response, Aliyu affirmed the REA’s commitment to supporting the initiative, noting that the agency had already been involved in institutional interventions across sectors such as education, health, agriculture, defense, and small businesses.
He assured the NCoS leadership of REA’s readiness to include correctional facilities in its programmes.
“I want to assure you that your community will not be forgotten. We will energize it and also introduce capacity development initiatives. We are willing to extend renewable energy training to inmates to empower them with valuable skills,” Aliyu pledged.
