Cleric tasks Nigerians on prison reforms

NEWS BY VANGUARD


The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, has enjoined Nigerians to contribute to the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Prisons.

The cleric made the call during a special Christmas Mass at the Catholic Prisons Chapel in Onitsha Prisons.
He said the Church would continue to assist the Nigerian Prisons Service especially Onitsha Prisons to make the prisons a true reformatory ground for the inmates.
He said: “We want Nigerian Prisons, especially Onitsha Prisons, to be exceptional and we can only achieve it when everybody in the society contributes towards the reformation of our brothers and sisters here.
“I will personally take up the demands and challenges facing these prisons and see that our people contribute to the education, skill acquisition and handicraft programmes in the prisons.”
I intend to meet the Anambra State governor, as well as Federal Government officials to know how best to create a functional reform of the inmates.
“Though it would be done gradually, it would be surely done because we want the best for you to better equip you for re-integration with the society on your discharge.
The Archbishop called on the inmates to use the Christmas to rededicate their lives to God; adding that it is only by so doing that the season could make meaning and impact to their lives.
The cleric assured the inmates that the Church, government would continue to show love to them through continuous prayers and seeing to their health and wellbeing.
Deputy Controller of Prisons in-charge of Onitsha Prisons, Mr. Julius Ezugwu, commended the Archbishop and the Church for their love, care and great concern shown to improve the welfare of the inmates of Onitsha Prisons.
He appealed to the Archbishop to assist in opening a center of the National Open University in Onitsha Prisons and donate textbooks, notebooks and whiteboard for the school.
He listed other needs of the Onitsha Prisons to include mattresses and blankets; maintenance of prison vehicles and purchase of new tyres; a transformer and two drums of diesel monthly for the fueling of the generator for the supply of potable water for the inmates.