The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it has budgeted about N22.4 billion for the feeding of 75,607 inmates across all correctional centres nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, made this known during a two-day Hhgh-level conference on corrections and decongestion of custodial centres in Abuja on Thursday.
Belgore, who hinted that the funds required is already budgeted for in the 2023 Appropriation Act, claimed that the trajectory of the population in the correctional centres has hit all time high with at least 80 percent of the inmates awaiting trial.
Belgore said: “The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for the feeding of inmates. Failure to take action to decongest the custodial centres will come at a cost.”
He also raised concerns over the overpopulation of the correctional centres which is taking a toll on the revenue of the Federal Government.
