The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that more than 8,200 inmates in its facilities are suffering from various mental health conditions, amid a critical shortage of medical personnel to manage their care.
Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Dr. Glory Essien, made the revelation during a public hearing of an independent investigative panel in Abuja.
Dr. Essien noted that incarceration itself is a major trigger for psychological distress, with some inmates displaying signs of mental breakdown almost immediately after arrival. To address the shortage of trained professionals, the service has begun training inmate leaders to identify and report those showing signs of mental illness.
The situation, she explained, is worsened by logistical and financial constraints, including inadequate transportation, limited drug supplies, and a general lack of staff.
Supporting her remarks, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Pharmaceutical Services, Mohammed Bashir, said government funding for inmate healthcare is grossly insufficient. He highlighted the budgetary strain by pointing out that providing sanitary pads for female inmates alone costs the service over ₦4 million monthly.
While the NCoS has set up a dedicated psychological services unit and partnered with psychiatric associations, Mr. Bashir warned that available drugs are quickly depleted due to inadequate funding, leaving most mentally ill inmates without consistent treatment.
