The Nigerian Correctional Service has dismissed reports alleging that inmates were being poorly fed and dying of hunger in custodial centres across the country.
Reacting to the claims in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, the Service Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, said the reports were “misleading, sensational, and grossly inaccurate.”
Umar stressed that the completely untrue claims do not reflect the actual situation in the country’s custodial facilities.
He explained that the Federal Government makes dedicated budgetary provisions every year for the feeding of inmates, and that the funds were judiciously utilised under strict supervision and guidelines.
He explained that each inmate was entitled to three meals daily — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — as stipulated in the operational guidelines of the Service.
According to Umar, all custodial centres are governed by operational procedures that ensure the proper and timely feeding of all inmates.
“The Federal Government allocates funds specifically for the feeding of inmates, and the process is strictly monitored to ensure compliance with established standards
