Federal government feeds security dogs better than inmates in prison, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) has said.
The controller-general of the NCS, Haliru Nababa, disclosed this at a joint National Assembly Committee on Interior hearing.
He said he has written the minister of interior requesting for the review of the amount they are using to feed the inmates from N750 to N3,000 per day but they are still waiting for approval.
“We are therefore seeking the assistance of the National Assembly to approve the increment.
“We have made provision for the feeding of inmates, dogs and staff on training in six training institutions across the country. The money is grossly inadequate,” the NCS boss said.
According to him, the total number of the inmates in 2023 is 81,354 nationwide while 53,352 are awaiting trial.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who is the chairman of the committee asked the NCS team how much it costs them to buy the quantity of the foodstuff and ingredients needed to prepare the meal of a prisoner.
“Somebody said if Mandela was in a Nigerian prison for 27 years, he would have lost his sanity by the time he was released to govern South Africa.
“Our prisons are meant to correct the behaviours of the people. They are not condemnation centres. They are not to dehumanise.
“How can you look us eye to eye and tell us that you feed a grown-up man in Nigeria with N750 a day?
“One thing has come out is that non-convicted Nigerian is being fed with N750 and you feed each of the dogs under your care with N800 per day.
“So, a dog is better fed in the Nigerian prison than an innocent Nigerian in your custody.
Peoplesmind
