An organization which champions the rights of Nigerian prisoners, LEDAP, has cried out revealing that the Nigerian government only spends a paltry sum of N3.50k (Three Naira and Fifty Kobo) to feed an inmate in the Nigerian prisons each day.

Speaking at a round table for media and civil society organizations in Lagos on Thursday, LEDAP National Coordinator, Chino Obiagwu said that the current cost was increased by the new Comptroller-General of Prisons from the previous N2.10k per prisoner, Premium Times reports.

“The truth is that many prisoners supplement their meals because all kinds of businesses and activities go on inside the prisons,” said Mr. Obiagwu, National Coordinator, LEDAP.

“If you allow Nigerian prisoners to survive on their ration, they will all die.”

There are about 56,000 inmates scattered across Nigerian prisons, according to Mr. Obiagwu whose organization champions the rights of Nigerian prisoners.

“A lot of philanthropy goes into our prisons, churches like the Catholic church, The Redeemed church carry out on regular prison visits to improve the welfare of inmates,” said Mr. Obiagwu.

The round table themed ‘Moving Nigeria Towards the Abolition of the Death Penalty,’ was organized by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP).