The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has stepped up efforts to improve healthcare delivery in custodial centres nationwide, with renewed focus on inmates’ mental wellbeing, healthcare for female inmates and expanded access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, announced the initiative on Wednesday during the flag-off of the second phase of the 2026 nationwide distribution of essential drugs and medical supplies to correctional commands and custodial facilities across the country.
Nwakuche said the programme forms part of the Service’s comprehensive healthcare reform agenda aimed at providing humane custody and quality medical services in compliance with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
He explained that the quarterly distribution of medicines would strengthen healthcare delivery, reduce the burden of diseases, enhance mental health services and support the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.
The Controller-General said the Service had placed special emphasis on the healthcare needs of female inmates, describing them as one of the most vulnerable groups within correctional facilities.
According to him, the NCoS has prioritised menstrual hygiene management and other gender-specific healthcare needs to safeguard the dignity, health and wellbeing of women in custody.
Nwakuche also disclosed that the Service was advancing plans to enrol inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee sustainable access to quality healthcare across correctional centres nationwide.
He noted that while several state governments had already enrolled inmates in their respective state health insurance schemes, discussions were at an advanced stage to secure nationwide coverage through the National Health Insurance Authority.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to protecting the health, dignity and overall wellbeing of inmates while strengthening the correctional system’s capacity to deliver humane custody and effective rehabilitation,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Glory Essien, described the nationwide distribution of essential medicines as another major milestone in the Service’s ongoing healthcare reforms.
She said the intervention would significantly improve inmates’ health outcomes while reducing the risk of epidemics and the spread of communicable diseases within custodial facilities.
Essien urged healthcare personnel and caregivers across all commands to ensure that the medicines were used responsibly and strictly for their intended medical purposes in line with professional and ethical standards.
On accountability, the Assistant Controller-General in charge of Pharmacy, Muhammed Bashir, said the Service had established a robust monitoring and reporting system to ensure that all medicines distributed reached the intended beneficiaries.
According to him, the framework strengthens oversight of pharmaceutical supplies, promotes transparency in drug management and guarantees accountability in the utilisation of medical resources across custodial centres.
Nwakuche expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting ongoing correctional reforms and commended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and the welfare of inmates.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining reforms that prioritise inmates’ physical and mental health while advancing its core mandates of safe custody, rehabilitation, reformation and successful reintegration into society.
The nationwide distribution of essential medicines is part of the NCoS’ quarterly healthcare intervention programme, which seeks to strengthen medical services across correctional facilities amid growing emphasis on human rights, inmate welfare and effective rehabilitation within Nigeria’s correctional system.
