PRISON FELLOWSHIP URGES REVIVAL OF ABUJA CHILDREN CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

To curb rising criminality and secure the future of young people, the FCT Administration has been urged to urgently revive the Children Correctional Centre located in Gwako, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The call was made by the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr. Jacob Isado, during the opening of a two-day sensitization workshop for FCT Magistrates on Restorative Justice. Dr. Isado explained that the centre, if revitalized, would play a vital role in the effective rehabilitation of children and youths in the territory.

Highlighting the importance of restorative justice, he noted that it eases the burden on courts and custodial facilities while restoring dignity to victims, offering offenders a chance for redemption, and strengthening the social fabric of communities.

He encouraged participants to see themselves as pioneers in a movement that goes beyond punishment to healing. “A movement that sees the offender as capable of change, the victim as deserving of dignity, and the community as needing restoration. This is no small task. It will take courage, conviction, and a change of mindset,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Guest Speaker, Mrs. Ozioma Izuora, stressed the need to rehabilitate the Gwako centre, which she said had existing but underutilized facilities.

She appealed: “Please go and rehabilitate the Gwako transit home. Restorative Justice is already established—there is a centre in AMDC. Children and young people who fall into crime can be taken there for rehabilitation so they don’t end up in prisons, where they risk mixing with hardened criminals who may push them deeper into crime. We must also provide trained personnel to manage the centre.”

She added that putting existing facilities to effective use would strengthen confidence in the justice system and build resilience among young people.

Earlier, the Head of the FCT Restorative Justice Centre, Mrs. Miriam Kombi Ezeh, called on stakeholders to refer more cases within their jurisdiction to the centre to ease the pressure on both the courts and correctional facilities.