NDDC EXTENDS HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT TO INMATES IN RIVERS

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By: Fasasi Hammad

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated relief materials to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Rivers State Command, as part of efforts to support inmates and ease the impact of the current economic challenges facing custodial centres in the state.

The donation was presented on behalf of the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, by the Commission’s Director of Social Services, Jeremiah Oritsejolone.

According to a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledei Thompson-Wakama, the intervention aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Commission’s commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups across the Niger Delta.

Oritsejolone said the donation underscores the NDDC’s dedication to providing humanitarian assistance to communities and institutions most affected by prevailing economic conditions.

He explained that while the Commission may not be able to reach every community simultaneously, it remains focused on identifying and supporting the most vulnerable groups through targeted interventions.

He noted that the NDDC has, within the year, provided relief materials to several communities impacted by flooding and environmental degradation and pledged that similar support would continue across the region.

Emphasising the importance of the initiative, he stated that inmates remain members of society and deserve support as many of them will eventually return to their communities after completing their sentences.

Oritsejolone also commended the NDDC management for sustaining people-centred programmes aimed at enhancing the lives of residents in the Niger Delta.

In his remarks, the Director of the NDDC Rivers State Office, Okezie Ule, described the donation as recognition of the vital role played by the Nigerian Correctional Service in maintaining peace, security and public order.

He praised correctional officers for their contributions to society and reaffirmed the Commission’s appreciation for their efforts.

Responding on behalf of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Controller of the Rivers State Command, Richard Moses Williams, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for what he described as a timely and compassionate intervention.

Williams assured that the relief materials would be distributed fairly across custodial centres in the state to ensure that all inmates benefit from the gesture.

Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ipalibo Madodoye, commended the NDDC for the initiative, noting that it supports several SDG targets, including social inclusion, quality education, gender equality, and the promotion of peace and justice.

She pledged continued collaboration between the SDG Office and the NDDC on programmes designed to improve the welfare of women, youths, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

The Deputy Director of Social Services, Chioma Nwakwue, also appreciated the cooperation of the Nigerian Correctional Service and expressed hope that the relief materials would reach inmates who need them most.

She further commended correctional officers for their commitment to the rehabilitation and welfare of inmates.