By Erewunmi Peace

A new investigative report has uncovered disturbing accounts of inmates in Nigerian correctional centres allegedly engaging in sexual acts for money as a means of survival amid poor feeding conditions.

The report, conducted by journalist Ayo Oladiran and published by Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), detailed how some prisoners in facilities such as Kuje and Kirikiri reportedly trade sex for as little as ₦5,000, or take on risky jobs to earn money to buy food.

According to the report, several inmates claimed that the official meals provided by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) were insufficient and of poor quality, forcing them to depend on fellow inmates or external support for proper feeding. Some described the situation as “degrading and desperate.”

“They are doing ridiculous things just to get feeding,” the report quoted one inmate as saying.

The investigation, titled “Starved Behind Bars (I): Prison Inmates Exchange Sex for ₦5,000, Trade Drugs to Survive Systemic Neglect,” also alleged that drugs and favors are being used as alternative currencies inside some prison facilities.

However, the Nigerian Correctional Service has denied the claims, insisting that inmates are well-fed and that the government recently increased daily feeding allowances to improve welfare.

In May 2025, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced a 50% increase in inmate feeding allocations, assuring the public that “the days of starvation and poor nutrition in prisons are over.”

Despite these assurances, civil rights organizations and investigative journalists continue to raise questions about transparency in prison welfare management.