By Ibironke Ariyo
The Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations Against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has urged improved compliance with statutory provisions on gender-specific facilities.
This includes managing death row inmates and improving welfare for physically disabled and mentally ill inmates.
Speaking during the third public hearing on Tuesday in Abuja, panel secretary, Dr Uju Agomoh, said women in custody accounted for 2.3 per cent of inmates.
She noted that six facilities were designated for women, but only three were fully functional.
Citing Section 34 of the NCoS Act 2019, Agomoh said the panel had directed the NCoS to provide compliance details and identify gaps in mixed centres.
She also requested records of pregnancy tests for all female inmates in the past year, to be compared with admission figures.
On death row inmates, she described their management as a major challenge, especially feeding requirements, which she said must be higher to maintain order.
She urged special budgetary provisions and better rehabilitation programmes, noting that Section 12(2c) allowed inmates to seek remedies through the courts or the prerogative of mercy.
“The NCoS has been instructed to submit a full list of male and female death row inmates, and those whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment,” she said.
On physically disabled inmates, she referred to Section 23 of the Act, calling for a nationwide audit of facilities to assess accessibility and resource needs.
Regarding mentally ill inmates, Agomoh cited Section 24 and requested an update on protocol signings by NCoS Comptroller-General Sylvester Nwakuche.
She also sought the status of Mental Health Review Boards, statistics on facilities for inmates with mental illnesses, and categorisation of those labelled “lunatics” or “criminal lunatics.”
She said these directives aimed to ensure humane, lawful, and gender-sensitive treatment of inmates across Nigeria’s correctional system.
Agomoh stressed the need for improved media coverage, urging journalists to clarify issues, avoid distortion, and report accurately to protect the public hearing process.
She appealed for media support during and after the panel’s work, particularly when its report is submitted.
Meanwhile, the NCoS acknowledged that managing death row inmates was hindered by overcrowding, prolonged legal processes, financial constraints, and systemic neglect.
Assistant Controller General, Cyrus Lekatile, assessing the realities inside correctional facilities, highlighted extreme overcrowding, financial pressures, and the psychological toll of indefinite detention.
“There are 3,845 inmates on death row. Of this number, 81 are females,” he said.
He maintained that the high number of death row inmates worsened overcrowding and hindered adequate care and rehabilitation.
Lekatile also noted rising tensions in correctional centres due to unmet demands and miscommunication.
“They insist their ration should exceed other inmates’ rations. Unfortunately, government recognises only one-person single ration, posing a security threat,” he emphasised.
The NCoS ACG called for reform, urging a review of capital punishment laws and increased budgetary support for correctional facilities.
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