A panel investigating corruption and abuse of power within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that inmates are dying in custodial centres due to severe food shortages and widespread food racketeering.
Dr. Uju Agomoh, Secretary of the Independent Investigative Panel, disclosed that their recent inspections uncovered alarming levels of food deprivation in correctional facilities across the country.
“In all the facilities we visited in February, we did not find food stocks meeting the approved weekly standards,” Agomoh stated. “The required seven-day food supply is not being maintained, and many inmates are dying due to starvation. I have been visiting correctional centres for over 30 years, but I have never seen such a crisis.”
According to Agomoh, food meant for inmates is allegedly being diverted by officers-in-charge, who prioritize personal profits over proper distribution. She warned that starving inmates increases the risk of aggression within correctional centres.
“In every facility we inspected, we found that those supplying food were officials who manipulated the system for financial gain,” she said. “The quantity provided is inadequate, and profit-driven decisions are making the situation worse.”
A representative of the Acting Controller-General of the NCoS, Ibrahim Idris, defended the service, citing the existence of a Prison Ration Committee tasked with overseeing food distribution. However, the panel found that out of more than 12 farm centres operated by the NCoS, only a few were functional, with food produced by inmates reportedly being sold to contractors instead of feeding the prisoners.
The panel has called on the NCoS to respond to its findings in accordance with Section 14, Subsection 4 of the NCoS Act, demanding urgent reforms to prevent further loss of life.
