According to former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani, prisons should be seen more as correctional facilities where inmates are given the chance to change, develop their character, and get ready for reintegration into society rather than as places of punishment.
Speaking on behalf of Malam Nasiru Abbas at the 1st Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Security, Welfare Agenda (SWAC) Conference Graduation Ceremony in Kaduna, he stated that incarceration ought to give people a chance to take stock of their lives and make amends.
Noting that he had been detained at Kaduna Prison and other correctional facilities, he claimed that his personal experience of incarceration had given him a deeper understanding of prison life.
“A correctional centre is also a place where people are given the opportunity to reflect on their lives and correct their mistakes,” he said.
“Being in prison does not automatically mean that someone is dangerous or evil in society. It can also be a place where people are given an opportunity to learn, reform and prepare themselves for a better life,” he added.
Going to prison does not mean that a person is inherently evil. There is a widespread stereotype that once someone has been incarcerated, they are automatically branded as an evil person, both during and after their time behind bars. However, this view is overly simplistic and unfair. Many individuals go into prison and emerge as renewed, transformed, and better versions of themselves. While everyone’s experience is different, we should not look down on or judge those who have served their time. Instead, we should recognize the potential for change and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives, because incarceration does not define a person’s true character.
