The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) and non-governmental organisation Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA) have launched the Farming Justice Project, an initiative aimed at training inmates in modern agricultural practices to promote rehabilitation and tackle food insecurity.
The project, inaugurated at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, is funded by the European Union (EU) through the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Speaking at the launch, Funke Adeoye, Executive Director of HBBA, said the project was designed to empower inmates with practical farming skills that would enhance their reintegration into society upon release.
“This project is not just about growing food; it’s about growing potential. We are equipping inmates with tools to rebuild their lives and contribute to national food production,” Adeoye stated.
Over 80 inmates at the Kuje facility are currently undergoing training in crop cultivation, including okra, watermelon, and tomato. Some of the produce, such as fresh okra, is already being consumed within the centre, helping to reduce food shortages.
Officials of the NCoS described the initiative as a crucial step towards transforming correctional centres into productive and rehabilitative environments.
“Our goal is to shift from confinement to correction to make our facilities spaces of learning and productivity,” an NCoS representative noted.
HBBA has implemented similar agricultural projects for female inmates in Lagos, focusing on the cultivation of okra, bell pepper, and tomato, with plans to expand to other correctional centres across the country.
The Farming Justice Project reflects Nigeria’s broader efforts to modernize its correctional system and strengthen food self-sufficiency through prison agriculture.
