According to information released by the Federal Government, N22.44 billion has been set aside for the purpose of feeding prisoners housed in all of the nation’s detention facilities.
The amount was generated by the overcrowding of the detention facilities, according to Shuaib Belgore, permanent secretary of the Ministry of interior, who was speaking at a two-day conference on “Decongestion and Corrections Administration” in Abuja on Thursday.
For the efficient rehabilitation of prisoners, he demanded that the service and custodial facilities be changed.
In his words, “The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for the feeding of inmates.
“There is the need for holistic corrections reforms, including the modernization of custodial centers, to ensure the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Stakeholders have stressed the need to build new facilities and redesign the bail system to actualize why we are here today. ”
“Presently, there are 244 custodial centers nationwide, with a 75,507 inmate population, thereby leading to 82 custodial centers being overcrowded. The total number of male inmates is 73,821, and 1,686 are female inmates. Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial, while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.”
