The Nigeria Correctional Service disclosed on Thursday that the Federal Government had elevated the feeding allowance for jail inmates.
It additionally disclosed that over 1,000 inmates are at the moment pursuing college levels, whereas six are learning for PhD.
The improve in inmates’ feeding permitting follows a current viral video during which inmates at a correctional centre in Calabar, Cross River State, complained about insufficient feeding.
Speaking on Thursday on the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee’s month-to-month press briefing in Abuja, the spokesperson for the service, Umar Abubakar, mentioned the increment was a results of the rising price of meals.
He mentioned: “The viral video isn’t a illustration of Nigeria Correctional Service, neither is it a mandate of the service on reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Let me make this recognized right here that for the reason that inception of the change in identify, important progress has been made in reforming those that are in our custody.
“Four days in the past, I granted an interview the place we gave particulars on the alleged video. The NCoS has really ordered for detailed investigation of the mentioned video, which goes viral. And on the end result of the investigation, I’ll not be capable of communicate a lot 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 additionally acknowledged that the NCoS had created a conducive atmosphere for inmates to satisfy its mandate of reformation and rehabilitation.
He added that over 1,000 inmates are undergraduate, 282 are on their diploma and Master’s diploma and 6 present process their PHD programmes.
Umar mentioned, “Let me say right here that at the moment in an effort to make sure that we’ve what I check with as public security by way of our reformatory actions, we’ve over 1,000 of our inmates who’re really going by way of their varied diploma programme, 282 doing their diploma and grasp’s diploma programme, and 6 which might be doing their PhD programme. Three of the PhD college students are already writing their thesis.
“All that is geared in direction of our efforts to make sure that we alter the psyche and behavior of our inmates, and to assist their re-entry again 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.”