The disclosure came on Tuesday during the third public hearing of the independent investigative panel on alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture, and other inhumane treatment by the NCoS, held in Abuja.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has raised concerns over a worsening mental health crisis in its custodial centres, revealing that 8,246 inmates are currently battling mental illness.
The disclosure came on Tuesday during the third public hearing of the independent investigative panel alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture, and other inhumane treatment by the NCoS, held in Abuja.
Speaking at the session, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Dr. Glory Essien, lamented the acute shortage of medical personnel to care for the affected inmates.
She also drew attention to the broader toll of incarceration on mental health, stressing the urgent need for improved healthcare support within the correctional system.
According to Essien, “We have 8,246 inmates with mental health conditions in our custodial centres.
“From the moment someone is brought in —those who have seen a custodial centre know what I mean — the police escort them to the gate, it’s opened, they’re admitted, and then that gate locks behind them.
“That instant loss of freedom can trigger something. Some begin to show signs of disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has shifted.”
She added that the prison system depends on a network of trained inmate leaders who help staff identify individuals exhibiting signs of psychological distress.
“These leaders are trained to alert the staff when they notice concerning behaviour. They might say, ‘This inmate seems dazed, hasn’t eaten, hasn’t spoken to anyone.’ That helps us intervene early,” Essien said.
However, the magnitude of mental health challenges greatly outweighs the resources available.
“If you’re in a facility housing 500 to 1,000 inmates, and you’re the only attending doctor, nurse, or psychologist, it’s simply not possible to monitor everyone individually.
“That’s why we rely on these trained inmates to help us identify those in need, so we can provide care as best we can.”
She also highlighted the logistical hurdles involved in providing mental healthcare within correctional facilities.
“Mental illness is chronic—it’s not like malaria where you give a dose and it clears up,” she said, pointing to transportation issues, limited drug supplies, and staff shortages as ongoing obstacles.
“We’re not operating in a five-star environment. But with the little we have, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of our work,” Essien added.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Bashir, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections responsible for pharmaceutical services, addressed concerns regarding drug availability and mental health care.
“The Federal Government has actually been doing its enormous best to see that it caters for the health needs of the inmates. Money has been appropriated, but is the money enough? No.”
Bashir disclosed that a single item, such as sanitary pads for menstruating inmates, costs the service over N4million each month.
On mental healthcare, he added that a dedicated psychological services unit has been established within the service to provide treatment.
“We have partnership with this psychiatric and psychological association. We have the consultants that usually go to about 12 designated custodial centres that have a large number of these cases,” he said.
He acknowledged that drug supplies frequently run out within weeks, citing inadequate funding and staffing.