In a significant move to address the rising cost of food and improve inmate welfare, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a 50% increase in feeding allowances for prison inmates, effective August 2024.
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the development, highlighting that this is the first phase of broader reforms aimed at enhancing the care of inmates.
Speaking during an interview, Umar stated,
“The increase is crucial due to the growing cost of food, and further reviews are planned to ensure the sustainability of inmate care.”
The NCoS, which oversees 84,575 inmates nationwide, has been allocated over N24.4 billion in the 2024 budget to cover catering materials and foodstuffs.
This measure comes in response to concerns raised in December 2023, when it was revealed that only N750 was spent daily on each inmate’s meals, while N800 was allocated for feeding each of the service’s 900 dogs.
Public outrage over inmate welfare surged recently after a viral video exposed substandard meals at the Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar.
The video prompted an investigation by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who vowed to address the issue.
The 50% increase is seen as a step toward ensuring that inmates receive adequate nutrition, and it underscores the government’s commitment to improving conditions within Nigeria’s correctional facilities.
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