By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Abia State Government has assured Nigerian Correctional Service that the state government is committed to the welfare of inmates in their care.
Governor Otti gave this assurance while receiving in audience a delegation of the newly posted Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service, Abia State Command, Ogbeifun Josephine Ighiwiyisi , who called on him in Government House, Umuahia on Tuesday.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Calab Ajagba said the inmates should not be dehumanized as they are still human beings irrespective of their circumstances.
“Many of those people there (in Correctional facilities) may not necessarily be criminals or criminally minded but circumstances may have forced them there.
“Irrespective of what might have taken them there, they are still human beings. Everyone that is detained is a human being and needs to be taken care of, ” Gov. Otti stated.
He said he is committed to making sure that every Abian is taken care of and appreciated the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service for the good works they are doing in Abia including taking care of the inmates.
Governor Otti, who said that he is building a new Abia, called on the new Commander and her team to contribute their own quota in driving the new narrative in Abia and support in making sure that the state is crime free.
“It is quite expected that they should contribute their own quota in driving the new narrative in Abia and support the state government in making sure that as much as possible, the state is crime free,” Gov. Otti stated.
He promised to continue to support the facility and indeed various federal agencies in the state as much as funds may be available and encouraged them to always make judicious use of the resources available to them.
Earlier in her speech, the Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service, Abia State Command, Ogbeifun Josephine Ighiwiyisi who came on a familiarisation visit
thanked Governor Alex Otti for his assistance to the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abia State.
She particularly appreciated the Governor for extending solar powered light to the facility, building the perimeter fencing, proper erosion control in their premises among others and solicited the support of the state government in the tackling some of their challenges.
