The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has firmly denied recent reports alleging that inmates across the country are suffering from starvation and dying of hunger, describing the claims as “misleading, sensational, and grossly inaccurate.”
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, said the allegations circulating in the media do not reflect the actual conditions in custodial centres nationwide.
“The Federal Government allocates funds specifically for the feeding of inmates, and the process is strictly monitored to ensure compliance with established standards,” Umar said, adding that each inmate is entitled to three meals daily—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—as stipulated in the Service’s operational guidelines.
Umar categorically refuted any suggestion that inmates were starving or dying due to hunger, stating, “It is completely false to insinuate that inmates are left to starve or that hunger is leading to deaths within our facilities.”
He further questioned the credibility of the reports, pointing out the restricted access to correctional facilities and the strict protocols in place. “I wonder how a journalist could claim to have interviewed inmates inside a custodial facility. These are high-security zones where you can’t just walk in, let alone carry recording devices,” he said. According to Umar, mobile phones and cameras are prohibited within these facilities, making such interviews highly improbable. “The report defies logic and is clearly a fabrication,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the service’s internal accountability mechanisms, Umar noted that the NCoS has zero tolerance for mismanagement or negligence in the handling of resources, particularly those meant for inmate welfare. “We have robust checks in place. Any officer found wanting faces disciplinary action in accordance with the law,” he stated.
While acknowledging that correctional centres face operational challenges, he insisted these have not compromised feeding arrangements. “We are not oblivious to the economic realities, but these have not translated to starvation or hunger-related deaths,” Umar added.
He also credited the administration of President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing inmate welfare, noting that the current government increased the budget for inmate feeding by 50 percent. “That was a major step toward improving welfare,” he said.
Umar urged media houses and civil society organizations to verify their information before publication. “We operate transparently and welcome constructive engagement. Journalism thrives on accuracy and responsibility,” he said.
Reaffirming the NCoS’s commitment to the humane treatment of inmates, Umar concluded, “Our mandate goes beyond incarceration; it includes reforming and rehabilitating inmates to ensure they return to society as better individuals.”
The NCoS called on the public to disregard the misleading reports and continue supporting efforts aimed at reforming the correctional system in line with international best practices.
