Panel Investigation and Findings

Established in September 2024, the committee spent months investigating the correctional system by inspecting 86 facilities across 23 states and the FCT, holding public hearings, and visiting Türkiye. The investigation uncovered several critical issues regarding inmate welfare:

• Malnutrition and Inadequate Funding: Feeding was identified as a major concern, with investigations revealing that inadequate budgets and poor resource management led to severe malnutrition and grossly insufficient food portions.

• Regional Reports: In Imo State, the Owerri Correctional Centre reportedly provided severely limited food, while in Akwa Ibom State, poor feeding was linked to inmate deaths.

• Contract Irregularities: The panel uncovered that many feeding contracts were awarded to companies located far from the facilities they served, leading to subcontracting arrangements where feeding responsibilities were passed down at rates far below government-approved levels.

• Conflict of Interest: There were allegations that retired and serving correctional officers, politicians, and other influential figures were connected to the feeding contract process.

• Systemic Concerns: The report noted that individuals benefiting from these supply contracts might be disincentivized from supporting prison decongestion or agricultural initiatives that would reduce reliance on outside vendors.

Recommendations and Future Reforms

To address these challenges, the panel provided several recommendations aimed at improving the correctional system:

• Increased Allowance: An immediate increase in the daily feeding allowance to ₦3,000 per inmate to align with current economic conditions.

• Infrastructure Improvement: Modernizing correctional farm centres to boost internal food production and decrease dependence on external suppliers.

• Enhanced Accountability: Strengthening transparency in contract administration to improve inmate welfare and support broader systemic reforms.