NDDC Donates Medical Items, Mattresses to Inmates of Benin Correctional Facility

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday, donated mattresses, drugs and mats to inmates of Benin Correctional facility.

The agency also renovated the water borehole and installed solar lights in the facility.

The initiative which is aimed at improving the welfare of the inmates and decongestion of the facility, was done in collaboration with Peace and Development Projects, Velma Foundation, Benioni Akpa Development Foundation, and Lov Network Foundation.

Presenting the material to Officers at the Benin Correctional Centre, along Sapele Road, Benin City, a representative of the NGOs, Mr. Mathias Ovie, said the initiative is also designed to address overcrowding in prisons by securing release of indigent inmates convicted of minor offences through payment of fines.

He disclosed that by this kind of intervention, the NDDC aimed to ease the burden on correctional facilities in the Niger Delta Region, while providing an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society for deserving inmates.

Ovie said part of the programme is the distribution of essential welfare materials to correctional centers across the region.

“The materials donated include sleeping mattresses, mats, and essential medical drugs to improve the living conditions and well-being of inmates. Additionally, operational vehicles of the correctional facilities will receive a boost through the provision of new tyres, ensuring the effective functioning of these facilities”, he stated.

Ovie further noted that the NDDC’s intervention reflects its ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of the Niger Delta, not only through infrastructure development but also through human-centered initiatives.

According to him, “By partnering with respected organisations like Peace and Development Projects, Velma Foundation, Benioni Akpa Foundation, and Lov Foundation, the NDDC is amplifying its efforts to deliver lasting, positive change to the region’s correctional institutions.

“This project is a testament to NDDC’s continued efforts in promoting peace, justice, and the well-being of the people in the Niger Delta,” said the representative of the NGOs, Comrade Mathias Ovie.

He added: “We believe that by addressing the issue of overcrowding in our correctional centers and improving the conditions of the inmates, NDDC is contributing to the overall development of the region and ensuring that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu administration is reaching the indigent members of the Region.”

Responding to the gesture, the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Medium Security Custodian, Mrs. Idowu Enodiakemen, applauded the NDDC and its allies for the initiative, which she believed will bring relief to thousands of inmates while also enhancing the capacity of correctional centers to provide better rehabilitation services.