The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed a media report claiming that tuberculosis is rampant and poorly managed in the country’s custodial centres, describing the publication as misleading and inaccurate.
The report alleged that prisons across Nigeria were “tuberculosis hotbeds” and posed heightened risks of infection to inmates.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NCoS spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Corrections J.N. Osuji, said the publication contained sweeping generalisations and ignored verifiable data provided to the reporter prior to publication.
“Regrettably, the report adopted a sensational tone by portraying custodial centres as unchecked hotbeds for tuberculosis. This approach is misleading, unfair, and gives the erroneous impression of systemic neglect where none exists,” the Service stated.
The Service explained that tuberculosis remains a global public health challenge but is addressed in Nigeria through a coordinated national response under the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, in which NCoS actively participates.
It emphasised that inmates undergo medical screening upon admission, periodic health assessments, isolation when necessary, and referrals to external hospitals. These measures, it noted, were strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent outbreaks in custodial centres.
The NCoS also said names and specific cases cited in the report did not exist in its records, stressing that responsible journalism requires accuracy and reliance on verified, facility-specific data.
Acknowledging congestion in some urban facilities, the Service insisted this did not amount to neglect of inmate welfare. It highlighted ongoing decongestion initiatives, including judicial collaboration, expansion of non-custodial measures, and recruitment of additional health personnel approved by the Federal Government.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding inmate health and human rights, the NCoS said it welcomed constructive engagement but rejected what it described as “alarmist reporting” that misrepresents the situation in custodial centres.
“Custodial health is inseparable from public health. While the Service remains open to informed public discourse, it strongly rejects reports that are misleading, deliberately alarmist, and designed to misinform the public,” the statement concluded.
