NCoS Raises Alarm Over 8,246 Mentally Ill Inmates, Shortage of Doctors
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has expressed alarm over a growing mental health crisis in its custodial centres, revealing that 8,246 inmates are currently battling mental illness amid an acute shortage of medical personnel.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday during the third public hearing of the independent investigative panel on alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture, and other inhumane treatment by the NCoS, held in Abuja.
Speaking at the session, Dr. Glory Essien, Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, said the lack of doctors, nurses, and psychologists has made it difficult to properly care for inmates suffering from mental health conditions.
According to her, “We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our custodial centres.
“From the moment someone is brought in —those who have seen a custodial centre know what I mean — the police escort them to the gate, it’s opened, they’re admitted, and then that gate locks behind them.
“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.”
Essien explained that the service depends on trained inmate leaders to help identify those in distress.
“These leaders are trained to alert the staff when they notice concerning behaviour. They might say, ‘This inmate seems dazed, hasn’t eaten, hasn’t spoken to anyone.’ That helps us intervene early,” she said.
However, she admitted that the scale of the challenge far exceeds the available 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.
“That’s why we rely on these trained inmates to help us identify those in need, so we can provide care as best we can.”
She also spoke about the logistical difficulties in delivering mental healthcare in prisons.
“Mental illness is chronic—it’s not like malaria where you give a dose and it clears up,” she said, citing transportation issues, limited drug supplies, and staff shortages.
“We’re not operating in a five-star environment. But with the little we have, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of our work.”
Mohammed Bashir, Assistant Controller General of Corrections responsible for pharmaceutical services, said, “The Federal Government has actually been doing its enormous best to see that it caters for the health needs of the inmates. Money has been appropriated, but is the money enough? No.”
He disclosed that “a single item, such as sanitary pads for menstruating inmates, costs the service over N4 million each month.”
On mental healthcare, he said, “We have partnership with this psychiatric and psychological association. We have the consultants that usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of these cases.”
Bashir acknowledged that “drug supplies frequently run out within weeks,” blaming inadequate funding and staffing.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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