The Chisco Group has donated two buses to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, to ease the transportation of awaiting trial inmates to court and support the speedy administration of justice.
The donation, which can convey up to 100 persons combined, was made as part of activities marking the 70th birthday of the founder and Executive Chairman of the group, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, CON.
The company said the buses would be fully maintained as part of efforts to ensure reliable and secure transportation of inmates attending court proceedings.
The intervention was supported by Chief Obinna Anyaegbu, Managing Director of Chisco Transport Limited and Machine Nationwide Limited, as well as members of staff, family, friends and associates of the group, including members of the Millennium Circle social-impact organisation.
The company said the initiative was prompted by the transportation challenges facing the criminal justice system, particularly the difficulty of conveying awaiting trial inmates to court.
The Ikoyi custodial facility currently houses more than 3,000 awaiting trial inmates, with some cases reportedly lingering for prolonged periods.
The lack of adequate transportation, the group noted, could contribute to missed court appearances and repeated adjournments, further delaying the determination of cases.
Speaking on the initiative, Anyaegbu said he chose to mark his 70th birthday by addressing an issue directly connected to the liberty and dignity of Nigerians.
He said, “Justice cannot move efficiently when the people who require it cannot get to court.
These buses are our contribution towards making the justice process more accessible and effective.”
Also speaking, Obinna Anyaegbu said the intervention was intended to go beyond a ceremonial donation, stressing that the group would apply its expertise in mobility, fleet management and vehicle maintenance to sustain the initiative.
He said Chisco would monitor the use of the buses, support their maintenance and work with correctional authorities to assess their impact on court attendance and the progression of cases.
The group said it would also establish performance indicators to measure the number of court trips completed, inmates transported, missed appearances avoided, vehicle availability and maintenance records, as well as the progress of affected cases.
It added that the data would be compared with previous court transportation records to determine the long-term impact of the intervention on the facility and its inmates.
Beyond transportation, Machine Nationwide Limited, a subsidiary of the Chisco Group, has also pledged to support automotive and technical skills training for eligible inmates.
The proposed programme is expected to strengthen the facility’s workshop capacity while equipping inmates with practical skills in vehicle maintenance and other automotive trades that could improve their chances of securing legitimate livelihoods after release.
The officer in charge of the Ikoyi custodial centre welcomed the initiative and expressed the facility’s readiness to collaborate with Chisco Transport Limited and Machine Nationwide Limited on vehicle maintenance, workshop development and technical training.
Obinna Anyaegbu said rehabilitation should extend beyond keeping inmates in custody, noting that correctional programmes should prepare them for productive lives after their release.
He said, “Skills, dignity and legitimate economic opportunities are essential to reducing reoffending and helping individuals become productive members of society.”
The Chisco Group acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service in addressing challenges within the correctional system, but said the scale of the problems required greater involvement from the private sector and civil society.
The group said the initiative reflected Anyaegbu’s broader commitment to human dignity, enterprise and nation-building, adding that its business expertise would continue to be deployed in addressing social and institutional challenges.
Chisco Group is a diversified Nigerian company with interests spanning transportation, logistics, automotive services, technology, hospitality and real estate, among other sectors.
