Federal Government has said N22.44 billion had been budgeted for feeding of custodial centres’ inmates nationwide this year. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the facilities have been congested, resulting in high feeding expenditure.
Speaking yesterday at a two-day conference on decongestion and corrections’ administration in Abuja, Belgore stressed that reforms were critical to effective management of correctional facilities for rehabilitation of inmates.
He said: “There is need for holistic corrections’ reforms, including modernisation of custodial centres to ensure reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.”
Harping on the need to build new facilities and review the nation’s bail sytem, Belgore observed: “The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for feeding of inmates.
“Presently, there are 244 custodial centres nationwide, with 75,507 inmates, resulting in 82 custodial centres being overcrowded.” Of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial, while 23,071 are convicted, with 3,322 on death row.”
