With a clear mandate to strengthen security and reposition the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for greater efficiency, Controller of Corrections Julius Oij Osemwengie has formally assumed duty as the 21st Controller of Corrections in Edo State, vowing to deliver professionalism, productivity and progress across the Command.
Osemwengie’s deployment to Edo State follows a recent posting order issued by the National Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abuja. He takes over from the immediate past Controller, CCS Sunday E. Oyakhire, FCAI, who retired from active service.
Until his new appointment, Osemwengie served at the National Headquarters as Controller in charge of Social Welfare and Aftercare Services, a role that placed him at the heart of post-custodial rehabilitation and reintegration policies within the Service.
Addressing officers and men of the Edo State Command shortly after assuming duty, the new Controller expressed gratitude to the Controller-General of Corrections, CGC Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, for the confidence reposed in him and the opportunity to serve in the state.
“I am in Edo State to achieve security, productivity and progress,” Osemwengie declared, setting the tone for his administration.
He emphasised the need for discipline, professionalism and unity of purpose among personnel, stressing that only a cohesive and ethically driven workforce could deliver excellence in the discharge of the Service’s constitutional responsibilities.
The Controller urged officers to conduct themselves in line with the core values of the Nigerian Correctional Service, noting that public confidence in the correctional system is largely shaped by the behaviour, efficiency and integrity of its personnel.
Osemwengie further assured both staff and the general public that the Edo State Command is poised to record greater achievements across all areas of its mandate, including the welfare of officers and the humane custody, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
According to him, the correctional system must not only guarantee security but also contribute meaningfully to societal stability by preparing inmates for productive lives after incarceration.
His appointment has been widely welcomed within the Command, with expectations that his experience at the National Headquarters—particularly in social welfare and aftercare services—will translate into improved operational standards and enhanced inmate management in Edo State.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, reformed from the former Nigerian Prisons Service, plays a critical role in internal security, criminal justice administration and rehabilitation.
Stakeholders will be watching closely as Controller Osemwengie begins his tenure, keen to see how his vision of security, productivity and progress reshapes the Edo State Command in the months ahead.
