Restorative Justice for Africa opens a halfway home restorative justice shelter in Nasarawa for formerly incarcerated people to rebuild their lives

Restorative Justice for Africa has opened a halfway home restorative justice shelter in Nasarawa State to support formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives.

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The newly launched facility, known as the Restored Voices Shelter, aims to address one of Nigeria’s most persistent criminal justice gaps: post-incarceration reintegration.

It was officially opened on 3 July 2025 in Ado, Karu Local Government Area, during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders across the justice sector.

According to REJA Executive Director Osariemen Omoruyi-Shobanke, the halfway home restorative justice initiative provides dignity and direction for ex-inmates, especially those unjustly detained or released with no place to return.

“Restorative Justice for Africa is excited to unveil the first-ever Halfway Home and transitional shelter for formerly incarcerated individuals in Nasarawa State,” she said.

“This groundbreaking initiative marks a major leap forward in reimagining justice in Nigeria, offering dignity, direction, and hope to formerly incarcerated persons who were unjustly detained or have no family or home to return to.”

The launch drew a significant turnout, including representatives of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, officials from the Non-Custodial Directorate of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and leaders of several civil society organisations such as ROLAC, Prison Fellowship International, and Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.

Omoruyi-Shobanke said the shelter is designed as a transitional hub that bridges the reintegration gap plaguing Nigeria’s justice system.

With temporary housing, psychosocial services, vocational training, and life skills programmes, the shelter will function as a self-sustaining centre run by formerly incarcerated persons.

Let’s restore voices and rewrite futures together.

“For years, REJA has provided legal aid and restorative justice interventions. But in the course of that work, it became painfully clear that post-release support was missing. The Restored Voices Shelter is our answer to this problem; it is a safe, supportive space for transformation,” she explained.

A highlight of the launch was the introduction of a new Model Practice Direction on Restorative Justice for Nigerian Courts.

The directive outlines a standardised approach to restorative justice implementation across judicial systems and promotes community-driven resolutions and reintegration-focused sentencing.

The shelter also seeks to work closely with educational institutions such as Taraba State University and local colleges to provide training to future professionals in law and social services.

Its location within reach of justice system actors is expected to boost collaboration and innovation in rehabilitation.

Omoruyi-Shobanke encouraged partnerships from government, non-profits, and private individuals to sustain the initiative.

She reiterated REJA’s belief in healing and inclusion through restorative systems.

“The initiative is part of REJA’s broader mission to close the justice and inequality gap and reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system by tackling the root causes of injustice and repeat offending, particularly among indigent and wrongfully detained persons.

“If you believe in second chances, true justice, and healing through community, we invite you to partner with us. Let’s restore voices and rewrite futures together,” Omoruyi-Shobanke concluded.

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The Restored Voices Shelter is one of the first purpose-built halfway homes in Nigeria and is expected to become a model for other states working to transform justice through humane and inclusive reintegration efforts.