On Thursday, the Nigeria Correctional Service said that the Federal Government had raised the prisoner’s food allowance. Additionally, it was revealed that more than 1,000 prisoners are presently enrolled in college programs, with six of them obtaining PhDs.
A recent viral video featuring prisoners at a correctional facility in Calabar, Cross River State, complaining about insufficient food prompted an increase in the amount of food that is allowed for convicts.
Speaking on Thursday at the monthly press conference of the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee in Abuja, the service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, stated that the increase was due to the growing price of food.
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, significant progress has been made in reforming those who are in our custody.
“Four days ago, I granted an interview where we gave details on the alleged video. The NCoS has actually ordered for detailed investigation of the said video, which is going viral. And on the outcome of the investigation, I may not be able to speak much on that.
“And on the issue of the cost of food, the Federal Government has actually reviewed the feeding allowance of inmates in our custody with 50 per cent. And this is just the first phase of the review.”
Umar added that the NCoS had established an atmosphere that allowed prisoners to carry out the mission of reformation and rehabilitation.
He continued by saying that there are almost a thousand prisoners enrolled in undergraduate programs, 282 in master’s and certificate programs, and six in PHD programs.
Umar said, “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 programme, 282 doing their diploma and master’s degree programme, and six that are doing their PhD programme. Three of the PhD students are already writing their thesis.
“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 to society.
“It is the care we give to these inmates in our custody that has provided a serene environment to help them learn skill acquisition across our custodial centre.”
