The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, has issued a strong directive to top officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), calling for tighter security across all prison facilities nationwide.
This came during an emergency virtual strategy meeting held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, where Nwakuche met with Zonal Coordinators, State Command Controllers, and heads of training institutions.
The meeting was organized in response to increasing concerns over prison security, especially with festive periods approaching—a time often marked byheightened security risks.
During the session, Nwakuche made it clear that any form of negligence or security lapse would no longer be tolerated. In a statement released by the NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, Nwakuche warned prison officials to act swiftly and responsibly or be ready to face disciplinary actions.
“This is not just about concrete walls and iron bars, it’s about trust, duty, and the safety of every Nigerian,” he said during the meeting.
The virtual meeting also allowed senior officers to share updates on ongoing security measures, express concerns, and receive direct instructions from the NCoS leadership.
While Nwakuche acknowledged some positive efforts by officers on the ground, he made it known that there was still much work to be done. He called for improved monitoring, use of smarter security tools, and stronger cooperation among staff.
Some of the key decisions made during the meeting include:
- Immediate security checks at all correctional centres to spot weak points
- Increased patrols and intelligence gathering at high-risk facilities
- Removal of officers found to be careless or unfit for duty
- Reinforcement of surveillance systems
- Reiteration of the zero-tolerance policy for misconduct or collusion
Nwakuche also noted the importance of internal accountability, stressing that anyone involved in actions that endanger facility security will face serious consequences.
The meeting ended with a renewed call for discipline, teamwork, and closer ties with other law enforcement bodies and the public to secure correctional centres across the country.
This move follows a troubling incident last month in Ilesa, Osun State, where seven inmates escaped after a section of an aging prison wall collapsed due to heavy rain. That event brought national attention back to the poor condition of some custodial structures.
It wasn’t an isolated case. Similar problems were reported in Maiduguri and Suleja last year, where breaches in wall structures also led to mass escapes. These repeated failures have raised concerns about the structural integrity of many correctional facilities in Nigeria.
