Nigerian Correctional Service Mental Health Crisis Seeks Urgent Reform
Nigerian Correctional Service mental health crisis highlights over 8,000 inmates struggling amid staff and resource shortages
Nigerian Correctional Service mental health crisis is escalating, with 8,246 inmates currently battling mental illness across the country’s custodial centres.
Also read: Adekunle Gold’s Mental Health Advice Urges Digital Peace
This alarming figure was revealed during a public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, and Torture held in Abuja.
Dr. Glory Essien, Assistant Controller General of Corrections for Medical Services, painted a stark picture of how incarceration affects mental health.
She explained that the instant loss of freedom at prison admission often triggers psychological distress in inmates.
“Some begin to show signs of disturbed behaviour almost immediately, as if something in their mind has shifted,” Essien said.
With limited medical staff on hand, the prison system depends heavily on trained inmate-leaders to identify fellow inmates showing signs of mental health issues.
This peer monitoring allows earlier intervention but is far from a perfect solution.
The challenges of mental health care delivery in prisons are compounded by logistics, shortages of drugs, and a scarcity of medical professionals.
“Mental illness is chronic — it’s not like malaria where you give a dose and it clears up,” Essien added.
Mohammed Bashir, Assistant Controller General in charge of pharmaceutical services, confirmed that while government funding exists, it is insufficient to meet all needs.
He noted the high cost of basic items such as sanitary pads and revealed that psychological services are currently limited to about 12 custodial centres.
Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and chair of the investigative panel, urged urgent support from the medical community and private sector.
“Please come to Macedonia and help us,” she pleaded, highlighting the lack of mental health professionals outside major cities.
Ajani called for expanded public-private partnerships to improve drug supplies and services nationwide and stressed the importance of leadership and mentorship in sustaining reforms.
Also read: Daddy Freeze Raises Alarm On 2Face Idibia’s Mental Health
This Nigerian Correctional Service mental health crisis underscores the critical need for systemic change to protect vulnerable inmates and improve prison health standards across Nigeria.
