Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has adviced the inmates of the Enugu Custodial centre, Nigerian Correctional Services to forgive themselves of the mistakes they must have made in the past and hope for a better future, noting that no mistake is beyond redemption if there is willingness to change
She gave the advice when she paid a visit to the Custodial centre , as part of the activities marking her birthday, on 29 April,2026.
Mrs Mbah addressing the inmates
Speaking on the theme “Light Behind the Wall,” Mrs Mbah said her 2026 birthday celebration, organised by the Office of the Wife of the Governor in collaboration with her pet project, , CUSTOS Care Foundation, was designed to inspire inmates and draw attention to their welfare.
She told the inmates that their current circumstances do not define their future, urging them to embrace hope and transformation.
Mrs Mbah( m)
“This visit is to remind you that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
Mrs Mbah distributed “Mother Care” bags to female inmates, aimed at supporting their welfare and restoring their dignity.
She also encouraged inmates to take advantage of reform programmes and help themselves to be better , stressing that Custodial centres should serve as places of correction, growth, and transformation, not just detention.
Earlier, the Conptroller of Corrections, Enugu State Command, Obizue Valines, raised concerns over the capacity of the centre which he said was overcrowded , describing congestion as a major issue.
“The carrying capacity of our facilities has been exceeded. This is why we continue to advocate the adoption of non-custodial measures to reduce the pressure on our centres,” he said.
Valines noted that many inmates were held for minor offences that could be addressed through alternatives such as community service and probation.
Also speaking, the Assistant Conptroller General of Corrections, Zone M, Prisca Chioma Okoh, highlighted healthcare challenges in custodial centres, calling for urgent government intervention.
“We are doing our best, but we need more support, especially in the area of healthcare. Government intervention will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of inmates,” she said.
In his speech the Deputy Conptroller of Corrections, Dr Sunday Igwe , incharge of the Enugu Corrections Center, thanked the Governor ‘s wife for the visit. He also thanked the state Governor,Dr Peter Mbah for his administration ‘s interventions to the Enugu Custodial centre. He lamented that the capacity of the centre was over stretched, disclosing that the center which was supposed to take 1,340 inmates had 3, 081 inmates.
The Deputy Conptroller therefore appealed Governor to remember them , calling for quick judgement delivery to reduce the population.
Dr Igwe who assumed duty at the Centre in 2025 said since he resumed duty it had been his prayer point to play host to the state governor, but the Governor sent one of the best( his wife) to come and visit them..
He appealed for assistance for all the inmates, disclosing that the burden of running the Centre was enormous . He informed the Governor’s wife that an inmate was admitted in the hospital and it had not been easy dealing with the challenges at the centre.
“The demand is enormous but am confident that since His Excellency is here, that burden is lifted.We are 3,081 as at now. Anything can happen by 6:00 pm because this place is garbage in ,garbage out, some go, some come. The number you have in the morning may not be the number you have in the evening. So, it is possible that by 6:00pm you may have 3,070 or 3,090 as the case may be,” he said.
Calling for quick justice delivery, the Deputy Conptroller appealed to the Governor’s wife to help the Centre reach out to the Chief Judge of Enugu state to please intensify justice delivery saying, ” there are cases here that demand interventions. By the time the Chief Judge comes like he did last year am sure a lot of them will be tackled. That is one of the things that if you do for us, this place will have an entirely liberation.
“Each time we tell them tomorrow is here, tomorrow is here, they don’t believe it untill they see it practically.”
Turning to the inmates he asked, ” is tomorrow not here?
“You are blessed to have a governor that is working in Enugu state and there is nothing more we can ask for than for him to remember us because when you talk of security, this is the final bus stop. You hear the police go out there to arrest, you hear the DSS go there to arrest, you hear the army go there to arrest, at the end of the day the final bus stop is here. So, we can’t be gasping to survive, let us survive because without us, people will not sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.
The Deputy Conptroller expressed happiness and confidence that good things were coming their ways.
VC Go-Uni, Prof Rev Fr Christian Anieke,
In a remark, the Vice-Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Prof Rev Fr Christian Anieke, announced scholarship awards for two inmates studying within the facility.
“You may have made mistakes in the past, but the future is bright,” Fr Anieke said, commending the management of the centre for its commitment to rehabilitation.
In an emotional appeal, a representative of the inmates called on authorities and well-meaning Nigerians to remember both awaiting-trial inmates and convicts, revealing that some individuals had spent over 25 years in custody.
“Some of us have been here for more than 25 years. We appeal for mercy. We have learnt our lessons,” the inmate said.
Highlights of the event were cutting of a birthday by Mrs Mbah. Presentation of cultural dance and gospel songs as well as distribution of mama care bags with assorted gifts to the female inmates.
