NCoS Denies Poor Feeding Allegations, "Inmates Eats Nourishing meal"

 By: Manoah kikekon 

Nigeria Correctional Service 

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has strongly refuted claims that inmates in its facilities are poorly fed, describing the allegations as false and misleading.  

In a statement released on Sunday, Service Spokesman, DCC Abubakar Umar, dismissed the allegations as a "gross misrepresentation of the realities within our facilities." He emphasized that the report was a recycled version of an earlier claim, designed to stir unnecessary controversy.  

Umar clarified that the NCoS operates under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, which mandates adequate nutrition, healthcare, and welfare for inmates. He stated, “Inmates are provided with meals that meet nutritional requirements recommended by health professionals, monitored by a ration committee appointed by the Controller General of Corrections.”

Addressing current economic challenges, Umar revealed that the Federal Government recently approved an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates from the previous rate to ₦1,125 per inmate per day. This adjustment ensures inmates receive balanced and nutritious meals in line with global welfare standards.  

Umar further noted that multiple oversight bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, civil society organizations, and international partners, routinely inspect custodial centers. None of their reports, he said, support the negative claims about inmate feeding conditions.  

Reaffirming the NCoS’s commitment to humane treatment, Umar assured the public that the Service adheres to international best practices in upholding inmates' dignity and rights.  

The NCoS urges the public to disregard misleading reports and trust in its ongoing reforms to improve inmate welfare.