The Federal Government said on Thursday that Nigeria will spend N22.4 billion feeding convicts in correctional facilities across the country.
This is according to Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, who made the announcement at a two-day High Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to Belgore, the fund is scheduled for in the Appropriation Act of 2023.
He stated that the population of the detention facilities has steadily increased, with at least 80% of the convicts awaiting trial.
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According to him, there are 244 custodial facilities in the United States, with a total population of 75,507 inmates, resulting in 82 of them being overcrowded.
The overall number of male detainees is 73,821 and female 1,686 female inmates, he noted.
Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial, 23,071 have been convicted, and 3,322 are on death row.