Prosocial Care for Stranded, a non-governmental organization, has called upon the Federal Government to provide essential support aimed at enhancing the well-being of inmates in correctional facilities across the nation.
Bamidele Atoyebi, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, issued this plea on Tuesday through a statement following a visit to the Ikoyi Prison Correctional Centre in Lagos. Atoyebi commended the efforts of facility officials while advocating for improved service delivery to inmates.
The Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, disclosed in December 2023 before the joint National Assembly Committee on Interior that inmates receive inferior treatment compared to dogs in the nation’s correctional facilities.
Nababa stated, “The Nigeria Correctional Service has submitted a request to the Minister of Interior for a review of the daily feeding allowance for inmates from N750 to N3,000. We are awaiting approval for this request.”
“We seek the support of the National Assembly to endorse this increment. The allocated funds for inmate feeding, including dogs and staff undergoing training in six training institutions nationwide, are significantly insufficient. With a total inmate population of 81,354 in 2023, including 53,352 awaiting trial, the budget for each inmate’s daily meals stands at N750, equivalent to N250 per meal,” he added.
While urging the Federal Government to address the issue, Atoyebi said, “This is a call to the Federal Government to provide support for inmates across the country to improve their lives.
“This support includes water, a clean environment, improved infrastructural building and many more. There is a need for government to enhance the living of the inmates.”
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Atoyebi further commended the collaborative efforts with the Ikoyi Prison Correctional Centre which had resulted and yielded positive outcomes.
“I want to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of our organization that have resulted in significant positive changes within the Ikoyi Correctional Center through the Prosocial Care for Stranded initiative and with the partnership of the Deputy Controller and all the dedicated staff at Ikoyi Prison, Ikoyi Correctional Centre has witnessed a remarkable impact on the lives of inmates and the overall improvement of the prison,” he added.
Source: Punch
