Nigerian Correctional Service Announces Increased Feeding Allowance for Inmates in 2025 Budget
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed plans to include a new feeding allowance for inmates in its 2025 budget. This information was confirmed on Tuesday by Stephen Abene, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State NCoS Command. Abene stated that this adjustment is aimed at reflecting the current economic conditions in Nigeria.
According to Abene, the daily feeding allowance for each inmate will rise from N750 to N1,150, following governmental approval. This increase is intended to enhance the welfare of inmates and address existing nutritional issues. “The government has recently sanctioned an increase to N1,150 for feeding each inmate, up from the previous N750. This adjustment is to align with current economic realities,” he explained to The PUNCH.
Concerns regarding the conditions of inmates have garnered significant public attention, particularly after a December 2023 statement from NCoS Controller General, Haliru Nababa, revealed that inmates were being allocated N750 per day for food, while each of the 900 dogs in NCoS care received N800 daily.
In August 2024, outrage erupted following the circulation of a viral video showing poorly prepared meals at the Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar, which led to widespread criticism and prompted an investigation mandated by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. The NCoS later indicated that the conditions depicted in the video did not accurately represent the overall standards maintained across its facilities, but it confirmed that an investigation would take place.
Most recently, a troubling report highlighted that 12 inmates at the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State had died in September 2024 due to health issues related to insufficient nutrition.
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