From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization, Alliance for Good Governance, AGG, has raised an alarm over 5.6 billion Naira debt allegedly owed contractors supplying food to correctional facilities across the country.
The group’s coordinator, Chris Sanwo, and Secretary, Jude Nwokolo said due to the huge amount owed, the welfare of more than 75,000 inmates in correctional facilities across Nigeria now hangs in the balance sparking fears of starvation, malnutrition, and a looming collapse of services in the nation’s prisons.
The group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene to avert what it described as “an avoidable humanitarian and economic disaster.”
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Chris Sanwo, and Secretary, Jude Nwokolo, AGG warned that the backlog of unpaid dues—dating as far back as October 2023—has left many contractors unable to sustain supplies, forcing some to withdraw their services entirely.
“The non-payment of contractors’ dues threatens to cripple the entire prison feeding system, putting the welfare of over 75,000 inmates at risk. Beyond the walls of the correctional centres, it has also plunged contractors and their employees into severe financial hardship, triggering job losses and worsening poverty,” the group lamented.
AGG noted that the skyrocketing prices of staple food items such as beans, rice, and garri have further compounded the crisis, making it nearly impossible for vendors to continue operations without payment.
Although the Federal Government recently raised the daily feeding allowance for inmates from ₦750 to ₦1,125 in a bid to improve nutrition, the group said the gesture had been undermined by the government’s failure to settle arrears for rations and gas supplied.
According to AGG, some contractors have not been paid since August 2024, while arrears for October, November, and December 2023 remain outstanding.
Many vendors, the statement revealed, had taken loans from banks at high-interest rates to fulfill their supply obligations. Now, with government payments stalled, several are trapped in debt, unable to meet obligations to lenders, staff, and suppliers.
“This is not just about the inmates; it is about the survival of hundreds of businesses and the jobs they provide. The ripple effect on the wider economy is dangerous and could undermine investor confidence,” AGG warned.
The NGO appealed to President Tinubu to ensure prompt release of funds, while also calling on the National Assembly’s Committee on Interior to launch an urgent probe into the matter and strengthen oversight to prevent a recurrence.
“The Tinubu administration has shown commitment to tackling poverty through its Renewed Hope Agenda. It will be a tragedy if this noble effort is undermined by bureaucratic bottlenecks that leave inmates starving and contractors bankrupt,” the group said.
Officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Ministry of Interior declined to respond to media inquiries.
However, a vendor who withdrew his services, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed fingers at the Ministry of Finance:
“The truth is that the issue lies with the Ministry of Finance. They are the ones to release the funds. Until they do so, there’s little the Interior Ministry can achieve. It’s high time they spoke out so Nigerians know where the problem really is.”
