The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it remains committed to rehabilitating young offenders across the country through its borstal institutions.

The service public relations officer (SPRO), Abubakar Umar, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

Speaking on the management of remand homes and the role of NCoS, Mr Umar explained that by the NCoS Act, 2019, every state of the federation was expected to have a borstal institution.

He said that the facilities were designed as rehabilitation centres for young offenders who should not be kept in adult custodial centres.

According to him, borstal institutions provide protective custody and rehabilitation for children in conflict.

“This is with the law through school enrolment, skill acquisition, and other educational development programmes.

“The aim is to prepare them for reintegration into society,” he said.

He said that there were currently borstal institutions in Kaduna, Kwara, Ogun, Enugu states and Gwako, Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

On the type of training offered, the spokesman noted that most inmates of the institutions were of secondary school age and were given full educational therapy.

Mr Umar said that they attended classes like their peers outside and were prepared for public examinations such as the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB).

“We identify the causes of their antisocial behaviour and find appropriate remedies to train them to be of good behaviour.

“Many of them write WAEC, NECO and JAMB and come out with flying colours,” Mr Umar said.

The SPRO recalled that the Controller-General of the Service, Sylverster Nwakuche, had visited the JAMB Registrar to deepen collaboration on supporting young offenders to further their education.

Describing the inmates as having “open slate minds”,  Mr Umar stressed that NCoS was saddled with the responsibility of behaviour modification and nurturing them away from crime.

He added that success stories abound from the system, citing the case of a former inmate of the Kaduna borstal who was now a medical doctor and returned to the institution last year to inspire the students.

According to him, the controller general has rejuvenated borstal institutions nationwide by ensuring the provision of essential facilities for the proper training of the offenders.

Mr Umar also commended teachers and staff for their dedication, noting that even parents of the offenders appreciated the transformation of their children.

“Many of them leave the borstal institutions to perform excellently in higher institutions because of the coaching they received.

“Most of them turn out as good boys at the expiration of their stay,” he said.

Mr Umar, however, assured that there was no cause for alarm, as the institutions were fulfilling their mandate of rehabilitating and reforming young offenders for a better future.

(NAN)