In an interview session anchored by Mary Agidi, the Ondo State Chairman of the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Kehinde Oluwaseyi. addressed key issues relating to the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, as well as the general condition of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Excerpts:
Briefly, can you share PFN’s activities in Ondo State concerning rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates?
We have a lot of activities by the special grace of God. Going to the prison to preach is just the least of what we do, though it remains our primary assignment. There are several other key aspects of our work — reconciliation, reintegration, and rehabilitation — all of which are very crucial.
After preaching to inmates, when they are released, the government sometimes directs PFN to take care of them. Fortunately, we have the St. Joseph Halfway House, led by Pastor B.J. Daramola and the PFN PRO, who have been doing excellent work. The released inmates are kept there for about one to three weeks as a form of transition.
During this period, they are provided with job opportunities, skill acquisition training, and, after completion, we buy equipment for them so they can start a new life. We also monitor their families, checking on their welfare, children, and spouses.
Most importantly, we ensure that these ex-inmates are well established in a church so that the word of God they heard in prison continues to guide them. For those who relocate, we link them to churches in their new areas for follow-up and mentorship.
Recently, there have been reports of ex-convicts returning to crime and getting re-arrested. How would you describe the current state of rehabilitation of inmates in Nigeria?
It is very poor. The government is not helping matters at all. Rehabilitation begins with reintegration into society, but unfortunately, there is little or no support.
A few years ago, we organised the Yellow Ribbon Project to educate the public against stigmatising ex-convicts. Once people hear the term “ex-convict,” they reject them outright. Our campaign was to make people understand that these individuals can change.
Many inmates reportedly leave prison without acquiring any profitable skill. Why do rehabilitation and vocational programmes often fail, and what can the government do?
If the government had been more supportive, rehabilitation would have been easier. Many released inmates get nothing from the government—not even a small take-off grant to start life afresh. At PFN, we sometimes rent apartments, provide food and buy clothes for them.
Rehabilitation is a key area the government has neglected, and that is why many ex-inmates return to crime. They are often rejected by their families and communities, leaving them with no means of survival.
The government should prioritise budgeting for rehabilitation in all correctional centers. They should provide equipment for trades like tailoring, carpentry, welding, bricklaying, shoemaking, and others.
At Olokuta, for instance, and the others we have visited, we only saw about six sewing machines and one cobbler. That’s all. Aside that, I don’t see anything serious that they are doing over there. Recently, they reinforced the prison wall, which is good, but if the money they have budgeted for the reinforcement of the wall is channeled towards getting equipment, I can assure you that the inmates there, once they have learned one trade or the other, and they get out, people will get them engaged. Once inmates learn skills, they can become self-reliant upon release.
What do you think will be the long-term social and economic cost of neglecting ex-inmates’ reintegration and rehabilitation?
If ex-inmates are neglected, the entire society will be in trouble. Many hardened criminals recruit petty offenders in prison. When such individuals are released without proper reintegration, crime increases.
That’s why all stakeholders — PFN, the Correctional Service, Ministry of Justice, and the Federal and State Governments — must work together. If the state lacks resources, the federal government can provide counterpart funding to set up proper rehabilitation centers.
Currently, inmates are learning little or nothing meaningful over there. What they learn most is crime.
How successful have PFN’s post-release follow-up and reintegration efforts been so far?
They have been quite successful, especially when St. Joseph’s House was fully functional. Is it no longer functional?
Not as before, because the government is not lending the necessary support, leaving the burden to Pastor Daramola and the PFN PRO.
When inmates are released — whether by government directive or the Chief Judge — they are often handed over to us. Some return to their hometowns, while others stay back under our care.
Many of those we’ve supported have become pastors, businessmen, and responsible citizens. PFN has achieved this through reconciliation, reintegration, and rehabilitation.
What immediate reforms would you recommend to improve rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-inmates in Nigeria?
We are limited. For instance, when we once recommended that first-time offenders, like petty thieves or minor offenders, should not be kept with hardened criminals, we now advised that the prison cell should be partitioned and we wrote a formal letter. The then Chief Judge, Justice Toyin Akeredolu, was interested, but the letter got nowhere due to Nigeria factor. The Controller said he’s incapacitated that there’s nothing he can do about it. So, if we are trying to put in any recommendation, unless there is a stakeholders meeting, and the federal government is interested, any recommendation will not be effective. Abuja still directly controls the correctional centers, which makes us incapacitated.
Recently, the Ondo State Controller of the Correctional Service mentioned that out of 1,600 inmates in Ondo State, over 1,200 are awaiting trial. How do you view this situation in terms of justice administration?
The problem stems from the shortage of judges. For example, Justice Kuteyi once handled all rape cases alone before the process was decentralised. Because to appoint judges, the State Government must write to the National Judicial Council, which causes delays. Some judges even cited cases that take up to seven years because of the sensitive nature of testimonies.
So yes, we are short of judges. Some courts operate without judges. In Akure, there are about five courts, but in other towns, maybe just one. This leads to prolonged trials and overcrowded prisons.
How can families, communities, and churches help in reintegrating released inmates?
Reintegration is part of PFN’s core mission. Once an inmate is released, if they are willing, we follow them to their family homes. Some give us the wrong addresses, and not all cases succeed.
For instance, one man we helped later got involved in kidnapping and ended up back in prison. But for those who are sincere, we have successfully reintegrated them. Unfortunately, the government shows little interest once inmates are released.
Many employers deny jobs to ex-convicts once they find out about their past. Is that fair?
It’s not fair, and it’s not a legal policy. It’s simply individual bias. Ex-convicts have served their sentences and should be given equal opportunities.
How does poor rehabilitation contribute to recidivism in Nigeria?
Recidivism is rampant because prisons are breeding grounds for worse crimes. A petty thief is often beaten and initiated into criminal groups. When such people are released, they become hardened criminals.
The only solution is for society — not PFN alone — to support rehabilitation. PFN comprises volunteers from various denominations who spend their time and resources. In other countries, philanthropists and governments sponsor such efforts. For instance, in Kenya, a High Court judge resigned to join Prison Fellowship because of government support.
So, the government does not sponsor PFN in Nigeria?
Not at all. Only a few state governments, mostly in the North, give minimal support. Some attend our events, give speeches and commend us, but that’s not enough. What we need is financial assistance, logistics and vehicles.
I’ve used my personal vehicle for over ten years to transport inmates to hospitals and halfway homes. We spend our own money. PFN also conducts The Prisoner’s Journey (TPJ) — an eight-week discipleship programme on the Book of Mark, after which certificates are issued. The transformation in many inmates’ lives is evident.
We also run the Promise Path Project (PRP) for inmates’ children. We collect their details, pay their school fees and provide books and uniforms. We also organise the Angels’ Feast every Boxing Day, where we feed and clothe them to give them joy. We even sponsor inmates to register for NECO, WAEC and GCE. Last year, we registered about 10, and their results are impressive.
Another impactful programme is the Sycamore Tree Project, which reconciles offenders and victims to heal wounds and prevent vengeance. So that the offender won’t have the person in mind that once he comes out of prison he’s still going to deal with him. Because there are people in the prison that felt cheated, maybe they were oppressed by someone in a good position, we have seen cases like that.
Finally, what message would you like to pass to policymakers, the private sector, and the general public about rehabilitation and prison reform in Nigeria?
It should be everyone’s responsibility. Government, religious leaders and private citizens all have roles to play. There are other programmes they do where they invite big people in Nigeria and they donate money. It is good. But this one too, maybe they can bring in people from the churches, politics and the rest. Even, our Governor can be the chief campaigner. I don’t like what we are facing in Ondo State. Every hand should be on deck. It should not be the prison fellowship business alone.
Recently, we lost one of our members, in the person of Chief (Mrs) Oyinsan. When she celebrated her 70th birthday, she cooked, and went to Olokuta to celebrate with inmates instead of throwing a party. Her husband did the same when he clocked 70th. Likewise, Dr. Gbenga Fasua, Chairman of Akure South LGA, celebrated his birthday with inmates. Such gestures bring joy and hope. It makes them happy and feel at home. I don’t know the information they pass around, but over there, I have never seen a fish as big as this in anybody’s soup. One has to be sincere.
We cannot leave this burden to one organisation alone. Crime affects everyone. PFN’s immediate past chairman personally sponsored countless surgeries for inmates and supplied drugs to the prisons. I know the number of people we took to St. David’s hospital and Dr. Odetola’s hospital for surgeries. Those whom God has blessed should emulate this.
Many crimes today are linked to neglect, political manipulation and lack of opportunity. Some youths armed during elections end up as criminals afterward.
On a final note, PFN has acquired land in Abuja to establish a national rehabilitation centre for ex-inmates. We welcome support from individuals and organisations. If the media can also help in sensitising the public, it will go a long way in drawing attention to our work.