The Federal Government says feeding and accommodation of inmates is now the responsibility of state governments.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced that the move is coming following the recent consultational amendment which placed Correctional Services on the concurrent list.
He also gave the insight while speaking at a 2-day High-Level Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management, in Abuja. According to him, it is a relief to the Government which used to shoulder the burden of accommodating and feeding inmates.
The Minister added that the Federal Government had earmarked 22.44 billion naira to feed inmates across 244 correctional facilities in the country in 2023. He however lamented that the huge amount was draining the coppers of the Government.
On his part, Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, decried the cases of jail breaks that had claimed the lives of officers and inmates, and escape of prisoners. He added that the trend, posed a threat to the sovereignty and prosperity of the country.
