The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, directed the Federal Government to include prisoners in agricultural initiatives at all Nationa...
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, directed the Federal Government to include prisoners in agricultural initiatives at all National Correctional Service (NCS) facilities throughout the country, aiming to achieve food self-sufficiency.
The decision was approved following the approval of a proposal introduced by Hon. Folorunsho Adegbesan.
In his opening debate, Hon. Adegbesan noted that in many African nations, the typical diet offered in prisons leads to malnutrition among prisoners, with numerous courts across Africa raising worries about how often, how much, and how good the food provided in correctional facilities is, considering it as a form of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.
The House also highlights that globally, around 11 million individuals are currently detained in correctional facilities. In Nigeria, the total number of prisoners in correctional centers throughout the country is 84,741, which includes 82,821 men and 1,920 women.
The House recognizes that correctional facilities and other entities globally are developing and executing sustainable food initiatives to improve the diet of those in custody.
The House also recognizes that there are positive instances of how correctional facilities have attempted to address food insecurity in African nations, for example, in 2017, a prison in Mozambique grew one tonne of potatoes, which were utilized within the prison and distributed to other prisons.
He stated that in Botswana, irrigation agriculture was implemented in 2025 to address the effects of drought on prison farms and maintain steady food production within prisons, with an emphasis on sorghum, cowpeas, lablab, and maize.
He also mentioned that in Tanzania, eco-friendly and budget-friendly stoves that function with alternative charcoal and limited firewood were implemented in 126 prisons in 2024; meanwhile, Mauritius established a fish processing facility at one of its prisons.
Similarly, the Ghana Prisons Service provides inmates with contemporary farming techniques to establish agricultural programs within Ghana's prisons, ensuring that the prison system meets globally accepted standards. Meanwhile, in Namibia, hydroponic systems have been implemented to enhance food security in a female prison.
The House is concerned that insufficient access to enough food weakens the immune system and results in nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases.
The House is also concerned that the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that diet influences both physical and mental well-being and plays a crucial role in an inmate's effective rehabilitation and reintegration after release.
The institution notes that food sustainability in correctional facilities can enable inmates to access healthy meals, understand sustainable farming methods, and gain practical training opportunities that may assist them.
integrate back into society.
"The House is confident that involving prisoners in agricultural activities will boost food security, improve dietary health, and encourage environmentally friendly farming practices in Nigeria and further afield," Hon. Adegbesan stated.
In this regard, the House called upon the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Nigerian Correctional Service
to express and carry out policy actions to involve prisoners in agricultural activities.
The House also required the joint Committees on Interior and Reformatory Institutions to verify adherence and submit reports within four weeks for subsequent legislative measures.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Kehinde Akintola
The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed the Federal Government to include prisoners in agricultural activities at all National Correctional Service (NCS) centers throughout the country, aiming to achieve food self-sufficiency.
The decision was approved following the acceptance of a proposal introduced by Hon. Folorunsho Adegbesan.
In his opening debate, Hon. Adegbesan noted that in many African nations, the typical diet offered in correctional facilities leads to malnutrition among prisoners, with numerous courts across Africa raising worries about how often, how much, and how good the food provided is, considering it as a form of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.
The House also highlights that globally, around 11 million individuals are currently detained in correctional facilities. In Nigeria, the total number of prisoners in correctional centers throughout the country is 84,741, which includes 82,821 men and 1,920 women.
The House recognizes that correctional facilities and other entities globally are developing and executing sustainable food initiatives to improve the diet of those in custody.
The House also recognizes that there are positive instances of how correctional facilities have attempted to address food insecurity in African nations, for example, in 2017, a prison in Mozambique grew one tonne of potatoes, which were utilized within the prison and distributed to other prisons.
As per his statement, irrigation agriculture was implemented in Botswana in 2025 to address the effects of drought on prison farms and maintain steady food production within prisons, with an emphasis on sorghum, cowpeas, lablab, and maize.
He also mentioned that in Tanzania, eco-friendly and affordable stoves that function with alternative charcoal and limited firewood were implemented in 126 prisons in 2024; meanwhile, Mauritius established a fish processing facility at one of its prisons.
Similarly, the Ghana Prisons Service provides inmates with contemporary farming techniques to establish agricultural programs within Ghana's prisons, ensuring that the prison system meets globally accepted standards. Meanwhile, in Namibia, hydroponic systems have been implemented to enhance food security in a female prison.
The House is concerned that limited access to enough food weakens the immune system and results in nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and a higher risk of contracting infections.
The House is also concerned that the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that diet impacts both physical and mental well-being, and plays a crucial role in an inmate's effective rehabilitation and reintegration after release.
The institution notes that food sustainability in correctional facilities can enable prisoners to access healthy meals, gain knowledge on sustainable farming methods, and acquire vocational training opportunities that may assist them
integrate back into society.
"The House is confident that involving prisoners in agricultural activities will boost food security, improve dietary health, and encourage environmentally friendly farming practices in Nigeria and further afield," Hon. Adegbesan stated.
In this regard, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security along with the Nigerian Correctional Service
to express and carry out policy actions to involve prisoners in agricultural activities.
The House also required the joint Committees on Interior and Reformatory Institutions to confirm adherence and submit reports within four weeks for subsequent legislative measures.
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