PPDC trains Correctional officers on digital system to improve inmate management
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has organised a capacity-building programme for correctional officers on the use of the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS), as part of efforts to
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has organised a capacity-building programme for correctional officers on the use of the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS), as part of efforts to strengthen data management and operational efficiency in custodial centres across Nigeria.
The three-day training, which took place in Abuja, was aimed at equipping officers with relevant digital skills to improve accountability and enhance the administration of correctional facilities nationwide.
Speaking during the session on Friday, the Programme Manager for Access to Justice under the Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria project, Vivian Akagha, explained that the initiative was introduced to tackle persistent challenges associated with inmate tracking and case management.
She noted that the system enables comprehensive digital documentation of inmates’ records, covering admission details, court appearances and duration of sentences, making such information easily accessible when needed.
“With this system, we are certain inmates will no longer be lost in the system. You can track how long someone has stayed, their court dates and other vital details. It ensures people are not held beyond their lawful terms,” she said.
Akagha further disclosed that the project, backed by international partners, had already been implemented in several states, with ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of correctional personnel.
In his remarks, the State Programme Manager of PPDC in Kaduna State, Manasseh Akpa, said the digital platform was introduced in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, replacing the outdated manual record-keeping system with a centralised database.
According to him, the system captures biometric data alongside detailed inmate profiles, including identity, case history and court records.
“The essence of this training is to equip officers with the knowledge to manage a system that ensures inmates are properly documented and tracked.
"It makes it easier to store and retrieve information and ultimately helps prevent people from being lost in the system,” Akpa said.
He added that key infrastructure, such as surveillance cameras, biometric devices and backup power systems, had been deployed in selected custodial centres across the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa states to support the initiative.
Also speaking, the Head of ICT and Innovation at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Joy Edwards, highlighted the impact of the system in simplifying administrative processes within correctional facilities.
“With the introduction of CIMS, we now access information with ease. What used to take hours or even days can now be done in minutes,” she said.
Edwards further stated that the adoption of the system had significantly reduced the costs associated with paperwork, photocopying and manual file handling, while also improving coordination of inmates’ court appearances.
