NEWS
No Inmate is Starving, Feeding Standards Maintained — NCoS Spokesman
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed reports alleging that inmates were being poorly fed and dying of hunger in custodial centres across the country.
Reacting to the claims in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Abubakar Umar, said the reports were “misleading, sensational, and grossly inaccurate.
”Umar stressed that the claims, which were completely untrue, do not reflect the actual situation in the country’s custodial facilities.
He explained that the Federal Government makes dedicated budgetary provisions every year for the feeding of inmates, and that the funds were judiciously utilised under strict supervision and guidelines.
He explained that each inmate was entitled to three meals daily — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — as stipulated in the operational guidelines of the Service.
According to Umar, all custodial centres are governed by operational procedures that ensure the proper and timely feeding of all inmates.
“The Federal Government allocates funds specifically for the feeding of inmates, and the process is strictly monitored to ensure compliance with established standards.
“The allegation that inmates are dying of hunger is unfounded. There is no record in any of our custodial centres that inmates are being starved or dying because of inadequate feeding.
“It is completely false to insinuate that inmates are left to starve or that hunger is leading to deaths within our facilities.
“We want to assure the public that inmates are properly fed and their welfare remains a top priority for the Nigerian Correctional Service,” he said.
The service spokesman noted that the report was not only unethical but also defied logic, given the tight security measures and restricted access to correctional centres.
Umar said that entry into correctional centres was governed by strict protocols requiring written applications, approval from the Officer-in-Charge, and in some cases, clearance from the Controller-General.
“I wonder how a journalist could claim to have interviewed inmates inside a custodial facility. These are high-security zones where you can’t just walk in, let alone carry recording devices.
“Even cameras and mobile phones are prohibited because of the risk of concealed recording. So, for anyone to say they interviewed inmates inside a custodial centre is nothing but a fabrication,” he added.
Umar emphasised that the NCoS had strengthened its internal monitoring mechanisms to ensure the proper use of resources meant for inmates’ welfare, including the feeding programme.
He said that the officers in charge of custodial centres were held accountable, and there was a supervisory system at the national and state levels to ensure that the approved standards were maintained.
He pointed out that the NCoS had a zero-tolerance policy for negligence or mismanagement relating to the welfare of inmates.
“We maintain a robust accountability system. Any officer found wanting in the discharge of their duties faces appropriate disciplinary measures in line with the law, “he added.
While acknowledging that the service, like many other public institutions, faces operational challenges, Umar maintained that such challenges have not compromised the feeding arrangements for inmates.
Umar, however, expressed concern that such unfounded reports could create unnecessary public anxiety and tarnish the image of the service.
“We are not oblivious to the economic realities and general constraints, but these have not in any way translated to starvation or hunger-related deaths in our facilities.
“We urge media organisations to always seek clarification from credible sources before going to press.
“Journalism is a noble profession that thrives on accuracy and responsibility. Publishing unverified and sensational stories can undermine public trust.”
“We expect the media to seek clarification from appropriate authorities before rushing to publish such sensitive stories that can mislead the public, “he said.
According to him, the current administration of President Bola Tinubu had significantly improved funding for inmate welfare and custodial infrastructure.
He added that the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had also shown deep commitment to reforming the correctional system.
“When this government came in, they looked into the issue of inmate feeding and increased the allocation by 50 percent. That was the first step toward improving the welfare of those in our custody, and it is subject to further review.
“We have a minister who is passionate and working round the clock. A panel has been set up to further review inmate feeding, and I am confident that positive changes are on the horizon,” he said.
Umar reiterated that the NCoS remained committed to the welfare, reformation, and rehabilitation of inmates in line with international best practices.
He stressed that the NCoS remained open to scrutiny and collaboration with stakeholders, including the media, civil society organisations, and international partners.
He urged members of the public, CSOs and the media to visit custodial centres and independently verify the conditions under which inmates were kept.
Umar advised the public to disregard the false reports, assuring Nigerians that the NCoS remained steadfast in its duty to uphold the rights and welfare of inmates.
“Our facilities are open to oversight visits by relevant stakeholders. We operate transparently and welcome constructive engagement aimed at improving our operations.
“We are committed to humane and dignified treatment of all persons in our custody. Our mandate goes beyond mere incarceration. It includes reforming and rehabilitating inmates to ensure they return to society as better individuals.
“We urge the public to continue to support our efforts in building a correctional system that the nation can be proud of,” he added.(NAN)
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed a purported recruitment update circulating on social media, describing it as false and not originating from the Service.
The Service, in a statement, urged members of the public to disregard the misleading information and refrain from sharing unverified content capable of misleading prospective applicants and the general public.
The NCS advised Nigerians to rely solely on information published through its official communication channels for accurate updates on recruitment exercises and other activities of the Service.
It reiterated that its verified social media platforms remain the authentic sources of information and urged the public to always verify recruitment-related announcements before acting on them or sharing them with others.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Nigeria’s broad money supply (M3) increased for the second consecutive month, rising to N133.25 trillion in June 2026 from N129.21 trillion recorded in May, according to the latest Money and Credit Statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest data showed that money supply expanded by N4.
04 trillion month-on-month, despite the apex bank’s decision to maintain its benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent.The increase reflects the continued growth in liquidity within the economy, even as the CBN maintains a cautious approach aimed at controlling inflation, managing liquidity and sustaining macroeconomic stability.
Broad money supply, also known as M3, includes currency in circulation outside banks, demand deposits, savings and time deposits, as well as foreign currency deposits.
CBN figures also revealed a significant year-on-year growth in money supply, with M3 rising from N117.25 trillion in June 2025 to N133.25 trillion in June 2026.
This represents an increase of approximately N16 trillion, or 13.59 per cent, over the one-year period.
A breakdown of the statistics showed that M2, which comprises narrow money (M1), quasi-money, demand deposits and currency outside banks, rose to N133.24 trillion in June from N129.20 trillion in May.
The expansion in liquidity was largely driven by growth in quasi-money and domestic assets during the period under review.
Quasi-money increased from N84.58 trillion in May to N88.54 trillion in June, while demand deposits recorded a marginal rise from N39.43 trillion to N39.78 trillion.
However, currency held outside the banking system declined from N5.19 trillion in May to N4.92 trillion in June, indicating that more funds remained within the formal banking system.
Further analysis of the CBN data showed that net domestic assets grew by 4.37 per cent, rising from N102.26 trillion in May to N106.73 trillion in June.
Net foreign assets recorded a slight decline of 1.56 per cent, falling from N26.95 trillion to N26.53 trillion during the same period.
Overall, broad money supply expanded by 3.11 per cent month-on-month, highlighting sustained liquidity growth despite the CBN’s restrictive monetary policy measures.
The money supply figures came days after the apex bank retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent at the conclusion of its 305th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
The committee also kept all other monetary policy parameters unchanged, signalling its commitment to sustaining the disinflation process while protecting macroeconomic stability.
Analysts noted that the continued rise in money supply presents a challenge for the CBN as it seeks to strike a balance between supporting economic activities, managing liquidity and preventing renewed inflationary pressures.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Sports Development has criticised the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for failure to honour invitations to appear before it, warning that continued disregard for legislative oversight could attract disciplinary action.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), expressed its displeasure during a meeting on Wednesday, describing the absence of officials from both organisations as unacceptable and an impediment to the committee’s constitutional oversight functions.
Ningi revealed that separate invitation letters were sent to the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, to remove any ambiguity over who should represent the agency before the committee.
He dismissed the explanations submitted by the Commission for its absence, insisting that they were unsatisfactory.
“The committee will not tolerate attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” Ningi said.
He warned that the repeated absence of senior officials was preventing the committee from effectively carrying out its legislative mandate, adding that such conduct could warrant disciplinary action by the Senate.
“It is becoming a practice that requires Senate disciplinary action against these agents of government,” he said, stressing that accountability must be upheld.
Committee members unanimously backed the chairman’s position, insisting that the leadership of both the NSC and the NFF must appear before the panel to explain issues relating to their finances and operations.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the committee directed the NSC to submit evidence of its approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, along with details of budget releases for the same period.
It also requested records of funds released to all sporting federations, including basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey, as well as evidence of statutory federal government subventions to the federations.
To verify the records, Sen. Ningi instructed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting comprehensive details of all funds released to the NSC from 2023 to date.
The committee further directed the NFF to provide detailed appropriations and releases for Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as well as comprehensive expenditure records for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ningi said a new date would be communicated to the NSC and NFF for their appearance before the committee.
Addressing National Assembly correspondents after the meeting, the senator maintained that the attitude of both organisations was unacceptable.
He reiterated that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the National Assembly to exercise oversight over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, including the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation.
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