Nigeria’s interior minister, Abdurhaman Dambazau, on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, revealed that the federal government spends N10 billion annually to feed prisoners in Nigeria.
With the country’s estimated prison population of 57,000, the government is roughly spending N480 for each prisoner per day.
According to Daily Post, Dambazau spoke on Tuesday in Kaduna during a town hall meeting where he said his ministry is in search of avenues to harness sources to complement efforts of government in the feeding of the prisoners.
According to him, “It is unacceptable for government to be committing N10 billion every year on feeding of prison inmates,” Dambazau said.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that N14,000 was spent feeding each prisoner each day. The correct figure based on a N10 billion annual budget and 57,000 prisoners is N480. Still a shocking figure, in any case.
