The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission – Relief Fund Trust (IHRC-RFT Global), Nigeria Chapter, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s justice and correctional system to align with principles of fairness and human rights protection.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Amb. Adamu stressed that punishment alone is not enough to prevent former inmates from returning to crime after serving their sentences.
According to him, many ex-offenders face rejection, discrimination, and limited employment opportunities upon release, leaving them vulnerable to hardship and, in some cases, a return to criminal activities.
He noted that societal stigma often brands former inmates as lifelong criminals, making reintegration into their communities difficult.
This, he said, undermines efforts to reduce recidivism and build safer communities.
Amb. Adamu urged that correctional centres should function as true rehabilitation institutions rather than mere detention facilities.
He emphasized the need to equip inmates with vocational training, education, life skills, and behavioural counselling during their incarceration to prepare them for productive lives after release.
“A sustainable justice system must combine punishment with rehabilitation, opportunity, and reintegration,” he stated, adding that addressing root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment, remains critical to curbing repeat offenses.
The IHRC-RFT Country Director called on relevant authorities, civil society organizations, and community leaders to prioritize reforms that promote genuine reintegration and offer former offenders a second chance at life.
