The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced an increase in the daily food allowance for inmates from N750 to N1,150, set to take effect in the 2025 budget.
Stephen Abene, spokesperson for the Nasarawa State NCoS Command, confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating, “The government recently approved N1,150 for feeding per inmate from N750. This upward review is to meet up with the present economic reality.”
The adjustment aims to address nutritional concerns amid rising economic challenges.
However, this increase has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians emphasising that non-prisoners also endure severe economic hardships.
“While I understand the need for better conditions for inmates, the government must not forget those of us outside. We are also suffering,” lamented a Facebook user Chika Udeh.
“Policies need to reflect the struggles of all citizens, not just a select few.”
Public scrutiny of NCoS intensified following a December 2023 revelation by Haliru Nababa, the NCoS Controller General, that inmates were allotted less for food than the daily allowance of N800 spent on each of the correctional service’s 900 dogs. This disparity raised eyebrows.
In August, a viral video from the Afokang Custodial Centre depicted troubling images of poorly prepared meals, prompting an investigation ordered by Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Compounding the issue, reports surfaced claiming that 12 inmates at the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa died in September 2024 due to illnesses linked to inadequate nutrition.
