In a development that will surprise many Nigerians, the Federal Government has revealed the amount it will use to feed inmates nationwide.
According to the FG, the government will spend N22.4 billion feeding inmates in correctional centres nationwide.
This was disclosed by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore. He made this known at a two-day High Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to him, the fund is budgeted for in the 2023 Appropriation Act.
He said that there has been a steady rise in the population of the custodial centres with at least 80% of the inmates awaiting trial.
Politics Nigeria reports that there are 244 custodial centres nationwide, with a 75,507-inmate population, thereby leading to 82 of them being overcrowded.
The total number of male inmates is 73,821 and female 1,686 female inmates, he noted.
Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.
