The Federal Government has reviewed the feeding allowance of inmates in the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
This followed a recent viral video that showed inmates complaining of poor feeding at the correctional centres in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
NCoS spokesman Umar Abubakar said announced while addressing reporters during the monthly media briefing of the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) yesterday in Abuja.
He said: “The viral video is not a representation of Nigeria Correctional Service nor is it a mandate of the service on reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Let me make this known here that since the inception of the change in name, a significant progress has been made in reforming those who are in our custodies.
“Four days ago, I granted an interview where we gave details on the alleged video. The NCoS has actually ordered for detailed investigation into the said video, which is going viral. And until the outcome of the investigation, I may not be able to speak much on it.
“On the cost of food, the Federal Government has actually reviewed the feeding allowance of inmates in our custody with 50 per cent. This is just the first phase of the review.”
Abubakar said the NCoS had provided an enabling environment for inmates to achieve its mandate of reformation and rehabilitation.
He added: “Let me say here that currently, in an effort to ensure that we have what I refer to as public safety through our reformatory activities, we have over 1,000 of our inmates who are actually going through their various degree programmes: 282 are doing their Diploma and Master’s degree programmes, and six are doing their PhD programme. Three of the PhD students are already writing their theses.
“All this is geared towards our efforts to ensure that we change the psyche and behaviour of our inmates and to help their re-entry back into the society.
“It is the care we give to these inmates in our custody that has actually provided a serene environment to help them learn skills acquisition across our custodial centres, and to also pursue their educational programme.”