The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated relief materials to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Rivers State Command, to support inmates amid the prevailing economic hardship.
The Commission said the intervention forms part of its humanitarian programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable groups across the Niger Delta.
Presenting the items on behalf of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Director of Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Oritsejolone, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Commission’s commitment to people-centred development.
He noted that although the Commission could not reach every community and institution simultaneously, it prioritised vulnerable groups requiring urgent support.
According to him, the NDDC has this year provided relief materials to several flood-affected and environmentally impacted communities and would continue extending similar interventions across the region.
“The inmates in our correctional centres are part of our society. They are our brothers and sisters, and many of them will eventually return to their communities. It is important that we support them and contribute to their welfare,” he said.
Oritsejolone also commended the NDDC management for sustaining programmes that positively impact lives across the Niger Delta.
Speaking, the Director of the NDDC Rivers State Office, Engr. Okezie Ule, described the donation as recognition of the vital role played by the Nigerian Correctional Service in maintaining peace, security and law and order.
He said the Commission appreciated the dedication of correctional officers and their contributions to public safety.
Responding, the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Rivers State Command, Richard Moses Williams, described the donation as timely and thoughtful.
He assured the Commission that the relief materials would be distributed fairly across all custodial centres in the state to ensure every inmate benefits.
Williams thanked the NDDC management for what he described as a compassionate intervention targeted at some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ambassador Ipalibo Madodoye, said the initiative supports key SDG targets, including peace, justice, strong institutions, inclusion and social welfare.
He pledged continued collaboration between the SDG Office and the NDDC to implement programmes that improve the lives of women, youths, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The Deputy Director of Social Services, Mrs. Chioma Nwakwue, also commended officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service for their commitment to the care and rehabilitation of inmates, expressing hope that the relief materials would reach all beneficiaries.
