By Atoyebi Nike
A non-governmental organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), has officially launched the Farming Justice Project at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, an initiative designed to rehabilitate inmates through agriculture while addressing food insecurity in correctional facilities.
The project, implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), is funded by the European Union through International IDEA under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Funke Adeoye, Executive Director of HBBA, described the initiative as a timely response to Nigeria’s changing correctional philosophy.
“With the shift from ‘prison’ to ‘correctional service,’ it’s crucial that our custodial centres reflect this transformation by prioritising rehabilitation and empowerment,” Adeoye said.
Over 80 inmates are currently receiving training in okra, watermelon, and tomato cultivation, with harvested produce already being consumed within the facility.
The project also runs at the Dukpa Farm Centre and is set to expand nationwide. Adeoye urged public and private partners to support inmate reintegration, noting that most of Nigeria’s 80,000 inmates will eventually return to society.
FCT Controller of Corrections, Christopher Jen, praised the programme as a step toward a more secure society, while International IDEA representative Joseph Odeh called for collective efforts in justice reform.
The event featured the unveiling of the project and a tour of skill acquisition centres at Kuje Custodial Centre.
