By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to improving Nigeria’s correctional system, strengthening border control through technology, and promoting greater financial accountability across its institutions.
This was contained in a press release e-signed on Wednesday by Mrs. Mary Ali, Head of Press and Public Relations, following a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the pledge while receiving the President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Haruna Yahaya, who led a delegation to his office.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister said the correctional system remains a key responsibility of government, adding that the focus must go beyond custody to proper rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
“Government has a duty of care to its citizens. Even where freedom is restricted by law, we must ensure that those in our custody are treated with dignity and given the opportunity to return to society better than they came,” he said.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained that the transition from the old Prisons Act to the Nigerian Correctional Service Act was a deliberate move away from mere detention toward a system that promotes reform and reintegration.
On border management and internal security, he disclosed that the Correctional Information Management System (CIMS) now holds over 50 million records collected over the years, covering operations at the nation’s seaports and airports, with ongoing efforts to integrate land borders.
He said the system helps identify irregularities and prevent unauthorized entry, noting that modern security architecture is shifting from reaction to prevention. “We are building systems that can stop problems before they happen, not just respond after the damage is done,” the Minister added.
The Minister also emphasized strengthening internal systems across government institutions, particularly in financial management. While acknowledging the role of audits, he said greater attention should be placed on preventive controls. “It is not enough to detect issues after they occur. The real goal is to put systems in place that make such issues difficult to happen in the first place.”
He called on professional bodies like ICAN to support national development, especially in revenue assurance, internal control, and transparency, and urged closer collaboration between government and the private sector to improve efficiency and investor confidence. On infrastructure, he stressed the need for an effective fire and rescue service and said expanding coverage nationwide would require innovative funding, including private sector partnerships.
The post FG restates commitment to correctional reforms, border tech, financial accountability appeared first on Time.I.NG.