The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has intensified efforts to improve healthcare delivery in custodial centres across the country, placing renewed emphasis on the health of female inmates, mental healthcare and the enrolment of inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed this on Wednesday at the flag-off of the second phase of the 2026 nationwide distribution of essential drugs and medicaments to commands and custodial facilities.
Nwakuche said the initiative forms part of the Service’s broader healthcare reform programme designed to ensure humane custody and quality medical services in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.
He explained that the quarterly distribution of medicines would strengthen healthcare delivery, reduce the burden of diseases, improve mental health support and contribute to the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.
The Controller-General said the Service has accorded priority attention to the healthcare needs of female inmates, describing them as one of the most vulnerable groups within correctional facilities.
According to him, the administration has deliberately focused on addressing their unique medical needs, particularly menstrual hygiene management and other gender-specific sanitary requirements, to preserve their dignity and wellbeing.
Nwakuche also disclosed that the Service was working towards enrolling inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee sustainable access to quality healthcare nationwide.
He noted that while some state governments had already enrolled inmates into their respective state health insurance schemes, discussions were at an advanced stage to secure nationwide coverage under the framework of 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.
The Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Glory Essien, described the distribution of essential medicines as another milestone in the Service’s ongoing healthcare reforms.
She said the intervention would significantly improve inmates’ health and reduce the risk of epidemics and communicable diseases in custodial centres across the country.
Essien urged caregivers and medical personnel in all commands to ensure that the drugs were used judiciously 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 institutionalised a robust monitoring and reporting mechanism to ensure that all medicines distributed reached the intended beneficiaries.
According to him, the framework provides effective oversight of pharmaceutical supplies, promotes transparency in drug management and guarantees accountability in the utilisation of medical resources.
Nwakuche expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting correctional reforms and commended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery and inmates’ welfare.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining reforms that protect inmates’ health and mental wellbeing while advancing its core mandates of safe custody, rehabilitation, reformation and successful reintegration into society.
The latest distribution of essential medicines is part of the NCoS’ quarterly medical intervention programme, which seeks to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across custodial centres amid growing emphasis on human rights, rehabilitation and the welfare of inmates under Nigeria’s correctional system.
