The Nuga Best International, a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Thursday donated food items to inmates of Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, ahead of the Christmas celebrations.
The Founder, Pastor Hilary Chukwuma, who presented the items, advised the inmates to serve their terms peacefully.
Chukwuma who participated in a football tournament at the Kuje Custodial Centre, said that the gesture was part of the foundation’s contributions to strengthening peaceful coexistence among inmates, both Christains and Muslims.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the football tournament held between Nov. 10 to Dec. 15, and had six participating teams.
They are Nuga Best, Chizo FC, Seman Global, MFM Trademore, Voma Goodhead and Regis.
At the end of the tournament, Chizo FC took 3rd position while Seman Global and MFM trademore took 2nd and 1st positions, respectively.
Chukwuma said that the event was for the inmates to celebrate the season with joy, boost religious tolerance, forgiveness, love and better understanding among Muslims and Christians.
“Peace is a necessary requirement for development; We should use the Christmas period as an opportunity to create understanding and peaceful co-existence among inmates.
“I also urge Nigerians, irrespective of their religion and political inclination, to promote harmonious co-existence among the various religions in the country,” he said.
Chukwuma said that he had developed interest in organising sports for the inmates to let them know that they had people that still love them.
He said that the NGO had been collaborating with Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS for over 17 years, supporting and rehabilitating serving and ex-inmates.
Chukwuma disclosed that a lot ex-inmates had been rehabilitated by the foundation and had become responsible citizens.
“We have a rehabilitation centre, where inmates who get out of correctional centres can stay for a while before going into the society fully.
“We will continue to do our best to ensure inmates get the best and become better citizens after reformation and rehabilitation, ” he said.
The Controller, FCT command, Mr Ahmed Musa appreciated the foundation for the show of love to the inmates, saying that the initiative was laudable.
Musa, who was represented by the Deputy Controller in-charge of welfare, Mrs Akande Bassey urged the inmates to use the period of Christmas to pray for their freedom.
“This is not the time to think of how to escape, but a period to pray for your release and be better in the nearest future, ” he said.
NAN reports that food items donated by the foundation included rice, soft drinks, bottle water among others.
(NAN)
