The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of granulated organic fertilisers produced at the biofertiliser factory in the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers.

The commendation comes after the factory was constructed within six months of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Biofil Technology Nigeria Ltd.

Mr Nababa gave the commendation during a working visit to the Bio Fertiliser factory at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port-Harcourt, as stated by Juliet Ofoni, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, on Wednesday.

The visit was to inspect and evaluate the biofertiliser factory and to collect samples for testing in as many Correctional Farm Centres as possible. It was also to procure the same as off-takers for use in farms such as Elele Correction Farm Centre, Rivers State.

The Controller General of Corrections (CGC) was represented by the Deputy Controller General of Corrections in the Inmate Training and Productivity (ITP) Directorate, Sylvester Nwakuche.

Mr Nwakuche expressed satisfaction with the quality of granulated organic fertiliser produced after the construction of the factory within 6 months of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Biofil Technology Nigeria Ltd.

He called on investors to exploit the Public Private Partnership (PPP) window to maximise profit margins by investing in agro-allied ventures in the Nigerian Correctional Service.

He further urged Biofil Technology to ensure that the best was utilised of the five-year test run tenure given in the MOU, noting that the packaging should carry the NCoS symbol to amplify the essence of the partnership involved.

Earlier, the Controller of Corrections in charge of Rivers State Command, Felix Lawrence, welcomed the CGC and his entourage to the state.

He appreciated the CGC for approving the construction of the renewable energy system in the centre.

According to him, the area was messed with by rodents and waste litter, but it is now a clean and safe working environment because of the value-added processing of biogas and biofertilizer from inmates’ humongous waste matters.

He also congratulated the untiring supervising officers and men of the state command assigned to the factory for avoiding ineptitude and redundancy, leading to the marked success of the production in the factory.

Contributing, Raymond Jatau, stated that similar projects were being approved by the CGC across the country for improvement of sanitation, hygiene and enhancement of inmates training and rehabilitation

According to him, the sustainability of the project is the main purpose of the visit of the CGC through the high-power delegation to the site.

He stated that the Nigerian Correctional Officers Wives Association (NICOWA) would be involved in the distribution of the product once the Service procure the quantity its budget could accommodate.

In his brief, the Director of Biofil Technology Nigeria Ltd, Ibikun Taiwo, appreciated the visit and stated that the MoU indicated that NCoS would be the sole off-taker.

He said they would buy the produce at a reduced price to preserve the land from further degradation due to the use of inorganic fertilizers.

He promised that for now, 20 inmates would be trained on how to produce biofertilizers within six months to prepare them for reintegration.

On the benefits of the biofertilizer, he said: “The biofertilizer option for NCoS has enormous advantages.

“They include the treatment of waste matter generated in custodial centres and the involvement of retirees in the business of biofertilizer sales.

“The biofertilizers are purely organic and are safe to be used on all types of farms across the country for the production of Organic Foods for healthy living.’’

According to him, sewage is the main raw material for the adoption of a climate-smart agricultural practice in the Correctional Service.

In an interview with the fact-finding committee, an inmate in the production line confirmed that the production capacity was about 500 bags of 50kg per day using a staff strength of 20 with 15 Inmates and five instructors working for less than six hours daily.

He said that a higher production volume would have been achieved if three shifts were possible on site.

The site supervisor, O. Clifford, said: “Inmates undergo formal training daily by working in the factory to enable them to re-integrate properly into society after they regain their freedom.

“MoU is designed to enable inmates to earn daily, which would be a source of support for their families and dependents outside the Custodial Centres.

“Efforts are on top gear to certify qualified inmates to work with BTNL fertilizer firms when they eventually get discharged out of custody.

Further records show that the Nigerian Correctional Service commissioned a public–private partnership in Biogas and Liquefied Petroleum gas-operated kitchen at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port Harcourt, in November 2020.

“And today it has graduated to the level of production of bio-fertilizers and gas for renewable energy options of the smart agric technology.

The statement said that those who were present at the inspection visit included C.N. Ogwude, Assistant Controller of Corrections in Charge of Agriculture; D. A. Kupan, Controller of Corrections in Charge of Planning, Research, and Statistics; R.Y. Jatau, Controller of Corrections from Works and Logistics; and K.N. Abubakar, Deputy Controller of Corrections from Procurement Unit.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Maximum Security, E.O. Etim, gave the vote of thanks and wished the committee a safe trip back to Abuja.

(NAN)