Awaiting-Trial Inmates Feeding Gulps ₦14bn In Eight Months: Inside Nigeria’s Soaring Prison Costs

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has spent more than ₦14 billion feeding inmates awaiting trial between January and August 2025, according to fresh findings. The figures highlight the growing financial burden of Nigeria’s congested correctional system, even as calls for urgent reforms mount………CONTINUE READING

Rising Inmate Numbers, Rising Costs

Records obtained from the NCoS revealed that the population of individuals in custody without trial has steadily increased this year.

• January: 48,932 inmates awaiting trial

• February: 52,771

• March: 53,254

• April: 52,937

• June: 53,178

• July: 53,473

• August 25: 53,114

This brings the average awaiting-trial population between January and August to around 52,665 inmates.

The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, had earlier raised the daily feeding allowance per inmate from ₦750 to ₦1,125. This adjustment significantly increased the total cost of meals across correctional facilities nationwide.

Calculations show that between January 1 and August 25 — a span of 237 days — the Correctional Service spent an estimated ₦59.2 million per day to feed inmates awaiting trial alone. Over the period, this amounted to a staggering ₦14.04 billion.

Correctional Service Defends Spending

Speaking on the matter, NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar explained that the Service, under the leadership of Controller General Sylvester Nwakuche, has been fulfilling its constitutional mandate of providing daily meals to inmates.

“Despite economic challenges and inflationary pressures, the Service has continued to innovate within available resources. Through partnerships with government agencies and food supply contractors, we ensure food items are sourced responsibly and delivered promptly,” Abubakar said.

He added that feeding inmates is not just about sustenance, but a reflection of the Service’s commitment to humane corrections and rehabilitation.

“The Service remains open to collaboration with civil society organisations and oversight bodies to ensure standards are maintained and that inmates’ rights to adequate food and nutrition are fully protected,” he noted.

Nigeria’s Wider Inmate Crisis

The revelations come amid a broader crisis in Nigeria’s prison system. According to the Nigerian Correctional Service, the country’s total inmate population is over 80,000, with more than 70% awaiting trial. This is among the highest ratios of pre-trial detention in the world.

Legal experts argue that the high number of awaiting-trial inmates is caused by:

• Slow judicial processes and adjournments

• Overloaded courts with insufficient judges

• Police reliance on prolonged detention before trial

• Inability of poor defendants to afford legal representation or bail

This means thousands of Nigerians are effectively serving time without conviction, raising concerns about human rights and justice.

Global Comparisons

Nigeria is not alone in grappling with the cost of housing inmates.

• In the United States, where prisons house over 1.8 million inmates, state governments spend more than $80 billion annually on incarceration, with a daily feeding allowance averaging $2.50–$3.00 per inmate.

• In South Africa, government data shows inmate feeding costs reached R1.2 billion (approx. ₦90bn) in 2023, sparking debates about balancing prisoner rights with national priorities.

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has repeatedly warned that countries with large awaiting-trial populations face not just financial strain, but also security risks, as overcrowding fuels unrest and prison breaks.

Against this backdrop, Nigeria’s ₦14bn expenditure in just eight months underscores the urgent need for criminal justice reform.

Calls for Reform and Alternative Solutions

Human rights advocates insist that the focus should not just be on feeding inmates, but on reducing the number of awaiting-trial detainees.

Possible reforms include:

• Speeding up trials with digital court systems.

• Expanding community service sentences for minor offences.

• Introducing bail reform to reduce pre-trial detentions.

• Strengthening legal aid to ensure poor defendants get representation.

According to Amnesty International, Nigeria’s prisons are often overcrowded by three times their designed capacity, with many inmates sleeping in shifts due to lack of space.

Public Reaction and Accountability

The ₦14bn figure has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some believe feeding inmates is a constitutional and humanitarian duty, others question whether the funds are being effectively managed.

Critics argue that corruption in food supply contracts may inflate costs, depriving inmates of adequate nutrition despite huge government allocations. Inmates’ families and rights groups have long complained about poor-quality meals in several correctional facilities.

Analysts also warn that the issue may become a political flashpoint, especially as the country grapples with inflation, subsidy removals, and rising poverty.

Symbolism of Humane Treatment

Despite criticism, correctional experts note that prioritising inmate welfare has long-term benefits. Feeding and rehabilitating inmates, they argue, helps reduce the likelihood of recidivism when prisoners eventually rejoin society.

As NCoS spokesperson Abubakar explained, “Prioritising inmate welfare lays the groundwork for meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration, and is central to our vision of a fair and just correctional system.”

Conclusion

Nigeria’s ₦14bn prison feeding bill in eight months paints a stark picture of the country’s justice and correctional challenges. While the Correctional Service insists it is meeting its constitutional obligations, the figures highlight the urgent need to address systemic inefficiencies, corruption, and judicial delays that keep tens of thousands behind bars without trial.

For now, the debate continues: Is Nigeria feeding justice — or just feeding a broken system?