The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a 50 per cent increase in the feeding allowance for inmates across correctional facilities, effective from August 2024.
This move is part of a broader initiative to improve inmate welfare in response to escalating food prices and public outcry over the poor conditions in correctional centres.
The spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Abubakar Umar, confirmed the increase during an interview on Thursday. He explained that this adjustment represents the “first phase” of a series of reviews aimed at improving the quality of life for the country’s incarcerated population.
“The inmate feeding allowance has been increased by 50 per cent, effective from August 2024. This is just the first phase,” Umar said, indicating that further increases are expected as part of a comprehensive welfare review.
Umar noted that the decision to raise the allowance came after careful consideration of the rising cost of food items, which has been a major concern for both the government and the public. He further explained that the Federal Government would continue to monitor the situation and consider additional reviews in the future.
“Normally, there is a period when inmate feeding allowances are reviewed. Following a presentation during the budget process, the FG deemed it necessary to adjust the allowance due to the rising cost of food. Further adjustments are expected,” he added.
Nigeria’s correctional system has faced growing criticism over poor inmate conditions, particularly in relation to feeding. In December 2023, the Controller General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, revealed that only N750 was allocated per day for each inmate, which led to public outrage. This concern was amplified by the fact that the service was spending N800 daily on feeding each of its 900 dogs.
The feeding situation garnered further public attention when a viral video from the Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar, Cross River State, showed inmates being served poorly cooked meals. The video sparked widespread criticism, prompting calls for an overhaul of the correctional system’s welfare policies.
According to the latest figures from the NCoS, Nigeria currently houses 84,575 inmates across its various correctional facilities. For the 2024 fiscal year, over N24.4 billion has been allocated for catering materials and foodstuffs in the NCoS budget, underscoring the government’s recognition of the need for reform.
The 50 per cent increase in feeding allowance is seen as a crucial first step in addressing the long-standing issue of inmate welfare. However, experts believe that more comprehensive reforms will be necessary to improve the living conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities fully.
“The FG will also consider additional reviews. This is just the first phase,” Umar reiterated, acknowledging that the challenges of maintaining adequate food supplies and quality for inmates are ongoing. With food prices continuing to soar across the country, it is expected that further budgetary adjustments will be made in the coming months to meet the evolving needs of the correctional system.
