The Nigerian Correctional Service has announced an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates, aiming to address nutritional needs and economic challenges.
Starting in the 2025 budget, the allowance per inmate will rise to N1,150, up from the previous N750.
According to The PUNCH, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State NCoS Command, Stephen Abene confirmed the increase to The PUNCH on Tuesday, emphasizing that the adjustment reflects the government’s response to inflation and rising costs.
“The government recently approved N1,150 for feeding per inmate from N750,” Abene explained. “This upward review is to meet up with the present economic reality.”
The move follows growing public concern over inmate welfare, especially since a December 2023 revelation by NCoS Controller General Haliru Nababa highlighted a discrepancy between the N750 daily food allowance for prisoners and the N800 allocated per day for each of the service’s 900 dogs.
Welfare concerns further escalated in August 2024 when a viral video showed poorly prepared meals being served to inmates at Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar, sparking widespread criticism.
In response, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered an investigation. The NCoS at the time stated that the footage did not represent the general standard across its facilities but assured the public that corrective measures were underway.
Recent reports have added to the scrutiny, with claims that 12 inmates at the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State died in September 2024 due to an illness allegedly linked to poor nutrition.
