The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Haliru Nababa has disclosed that the federal government spends N750 per day to feed an inmate, while it allocates N800 per day for a dog.
Nababa made the disclosure during the 2024 budget defence of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior in Abuja.
According to him, there are currently 81,358 inmates nationwide, with 53,362 awaiting trial.
He said:
“We feed each inmate with N750 daily and they are fed three times daily (N250 for each square meal).
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“We have 900 security dogs and to feed a dog each day we spend N800.”
In response to concerns raised by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomole, Nababa assured that the NCoS is committed to addressing the issues raised and providing satisfactory answers.
Oshiomole said:
“Your organisation has transformed from Nigeria Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service but you have yet to change in your attitudes toward inmates.
“It’s not just your fault because the government appropriates little money for you, it is either you don’t feed the inmates or you feed them only once and even at that, very miserable food.
“This is why they have completely emaciated and some can never live a decent life again even when they did not commit an offence.
“You all know the price of food items in the market, so how can you look us eye to eye and tell us that you feed a man in Nigeria with N750 a day, how much is a bottle of water.”
He explained that the Committee has the intention to withhold approval of the service’s budget until it receives the desired information regarding the number of inmates and security dogs in correctional centers, as well as their daily feeding arrangements.
He said:
“I would like to see a breakdown of how you feed the inmates. If you say you feed inmates three times a day with N250 each.
“How many dogs do you have and how much does it cost to feed them daily.”
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