Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - The Nigerian Correctional
Service (NCoS) says no fewer than 8,246 inmates in custodial centres across the
country are living with mental health conditions.
Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of
Medical Services, Dr. Glory Essien, disclosed the figure on Tuesday, August 12,
in Abuja during a public hearing by the Independent Investigative Panel on
Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by
the NCoS.
“We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our
custodial centres,” Essien said, adding that the loss of freedom alone can
trigger psychological distress. “From the moment someone is brought in… that
instant loss of freedom can trigger something. Some begin to show signs of
disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has
shifted.”
She explained that trained inmate leaders help staff detect
early signs of distress, such as withdrawal or refusal to eat, but admitted the
scale of the problem far outweighs resources. “If you’re in a facility housing
500 to 1,000 inmates, and you’re the only attending doctor, nurse, or
psychologist, it’s simply not possible to monitor everyone individually,” she
said.
Essien cited shortages of drugs, staff, and transport as
major hurdles. “Mental illness is chronic. It’s not like malaria, where a
single dose clears up the issue,” she noted.
Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of
Pharmaceutical Services, Mohammed Bashir, said the government is trying to meet
the health needs of inmates but admitted funding is insufficient. “Money has
been appropriated, but is the money enough? No,” he said, revealing that
sanitary pads for menstruating inmates alone cost over four million naira
monthly.
On mental health treatment, Bashir added: “We have
partnership with psychiatric and psychological associations… consultants
usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of
these cases.” He, however, admitted that medications often run out within
weeks.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr.
Magdalene Ajani, made a direct appeal for wider support. “Please come to
Macedonia and help us. We are in dire need of psychiatric and psychological aid
in remote states beyond Abuja and Lagos,” she said, urging professionals to
work outside major cities.
Ajani emphasised the need for public-private partnerships, saying, “We can approach companies that can give us drugs as CSR; they do it… Do it now. Build a bridge and empower younger people to be able to sustain that bridge that you are building.
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