The Nigerian government will be spending about N34,780,554,000 to feed inmates detained across various correctional centres in the country from 2025, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Recall that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) had disclosed that the government had approved the increment in the money earmarked for the feeding of inmates nationwide.
This was revealed by the spokesperson for the Nasarawa State NCoS Command, Stephen Abene who said the increment would be reflected in the proposed 2025 budget.
Abene had explained that the adjustment aimed to align with current economic realities.
He said the increase to N1150 per day from N750 was a government-approved measure to improve inmates’ welfare and address nutritional concerns.
A check on the official website of the Correctional Service on Wednesday showed that the country currently has a total number of 84,011 inmates jailed at various prison facilities.
Going by calculation, once the increment of the feeding allowance commences, the government will be allocating N2,898,379,500 of the public funds to feed these inmates monthly which 68% of them are awaiting trials.
Further calculation shows a total of N34,780,554,000 will be spent annually by the government from 2025.
Data obtained further revealed that the country has a total number of 26,812 convicted male inmates and only 442 convicted female inmates, meaning that only 32% of the whole population had been charged, and legally convicted for suspected crimes and offences.