The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced that the 2025 budget will include an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates, raising it from N750 to N1,150.
Nasarawa State NCoS Command spokesperson, Stephen Abene, confirmed this on Tuesday, explaining that the adjustment aims to better align inmate welfare with current economic conditions.
“The government recently approved N1,150 per inmate per day, up from N750, to address nutritional needs and ensure inmate welfare. This will be implemented in the 2025 budget,” Abene stated.
Concerns about inmate conditions have grown significantly, especially since a December 2023 disclosure by NCoS Controller General, Haliru Nababa, revealed that the feeding allowance for inmates was N750 per day, while the daily allowance for each of the service’s 900 dogs was N800.
Public scrutiny intensified in August 2024 when a video from Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar circulated, showing poorly prepared meals being served to inmates. The footage sparked criticism and led Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to order an investigation.
More recently, a report indicated that 12 inmates at Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State died in September 2024 due to illness related to insufficient nutrition, highlighting the urgency of addressing inmates’ dietary needs.
The NCoS maintained that the video from Afokang Custodial Centre does not reflect general standards, but confirmed that investigations are ongoing to ensure consistent inmate care across all facilities.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.