The Nigerian government, through the Correctional Service, has announced an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates across the country.
This development was confirmed by Stephen Abene, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), who noted that the increment will be incorporated into the proposed 2025 budget.
Abene explained that this adjustment, raising the daily allowance from N750 to N1,150 per inmate, was approved to better align with current economic realities and enhance inmate welfare by addressing nutritional needs.
According to Abene, “The government recently approved N1,150 for feeding per inmate, up from N750, which will be captured in the 2025 budget. This upward review is aimed at meeting the present economic reality.”
Calls to increase inmates’ feeding allowances have gained traction in recent months, particularly after the NCoS Controller General, Haliru Nababa, revealed that the current allowance stood at N750 per day per inmate. This amount was notably lower than the N800 allocated daily for each of the 900 dogs under the service’s care.
Public scrutiny of prison conditions intensified after a viral video surfaced, showing poorly prepared meals being served to inmates at the Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar. In response, the NCoS stated that the footage did not represent the standard of care in most facilities, though they promised an investigation into the incident.
Further concerns over inmate nutrition were raised after reports emerged that, in September 2024, 12 inmates at the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State died due to an illness reportedly linked to inadequate nutrition.
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