Inmates Well Fed, Says Nigerian Correctional Service, Disputes Poor Feeding Claims

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says the food it serves inmates is just fine. In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency rejected reports that prisoners were poorly fed.

Abubakar Umar, the NCoS Public Relations Officer, called the claims recycled, misleading and false. He said the meals met health standards and were monitored by ration committees across correctional centres.

He also confirmed that the government had raised the daily feeding allowance per inmate to N1,125 to reflect current economic conditions.

“The Service categorically debunks this claim as false, misleading, and a gross misrepresentation of the realities within our facilities,” Umar’s statement read on Sunday.

“Inmates are provided with meals that meet the nutritional requirements recommended by health professionals and monitored routinely by the ration committee set up by the Controller General of Corrections. Our menu plans are standardized and reviewed periodically to align with evolving health standards and budgetary provisions.

“Also, in response to current economic realities and rising inflation, the Federal Government of Nigeria has recently approved an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates in custodial centres from the previous rate to ₦1,125 per inmate per day. This adjustment is aimed at ensuring that inmates receive adequate and nutritious meals in line with acceptable welfare standards.”

According to Umar, independent inspectors, including civil society organisations and international partners, visit prisons regularly and haven’t flagged any inhumane feeding conditions.

But that raises one key question: Can N1,125 actually feed an adult in Nigeria today, let alone provide three meals a day inside a prison?