In a landmark step toward clean energy adoption and prison reform, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has signed a strategic partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to provide off-grid electricity to correctional centres across the country.
The initiative, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Abuja, aims to improve infrastructure, enhance security, and provide vocational training in solar and green energy for inmates.
A Shift in Correctional Philosophy
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, described the agreement as more than a symbolic gesture. He credited Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for leading a forward-thinking approach to correctional reform.
“Today, we’re not just signing an MoU,” Nwakuche said. “We’re building a platform that delivers renewable energy to our institutions and provides the foundation for inmate rehabilitation, innovation, and skills development.”
He added that the project would not only improve prison infrastructure but also empower inmates to rebuild their lives post-incarceration.
“With access to energy, we’re opening doors to skill acquisition and reintegration. Who brings light brings life — and REA, you’ve brought life to our custodial centres,” he said.
REA’s Expanding Footprint
REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, emphasized the agency’s commitment to equitable energy access, revealing that REA has already deployed over 160 megawatts of off-grid solar energy, benefiting 1,650 communities, more than 1,000 healthcare centres, and over six million Nigerians across all 36 states and the FCT.
“This MoU formalizes partnerships that are already aligned in spirit, vision, and mission,” Aliyu stated. “We’re proud to work with institutions committed to development, energy access, and transformative public service.”
REA’s Executive Director of Technical Services, Engr. Umar Umar, said the partnership fits into the agency’s broader strategy to scale clean energy interventions across critical sectors.
“We’re bringing sustainable power to correctional facilities to enhance operational efficiency, security, and training. This aligns with global best practices in justice reform and human rights,” he said.
Broader Impact and National Energy Goals
The project supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which targets net-zero emissions by 2060 and universal electricity access by 2030. Key initiatives under this plan include Mission 300, which seeks to deploy 300 megawatts of solar mini-grids nationwide.
According to Umar, partnerships like this are essential to mobilising finance, building capacity, and ensuring institutional support to meet Nigeria’s climate and energy goals.
“Our advisory partner, Barton Heyman, remains a pillar of strength, contributing not just funding but also global expertise, policy alignment, and technical advisory to elevate our work,” he added.
Multi-Sectoral Collaboration
In addition to the NCoS, other institutions that signed the MoU with REA include:
NIRSAL
GEM Africa
Africa Energy Council
Barton Heyman
The initiative marks a bold step toward embedding green energy solutions into national institutions, while simultaneously offering hope, rehabilitation, and opportunity to thousands of incarcerated Nigerians.
