Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced that discussions are at an advanced stage to secure the enrolment of inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across custodial centres nationwide. The Controller-General of the NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, made this known on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, during the flag-off of the second phase of the 2026 nationwide distribution of essential drugs and medicaments to commands and custodial facilities across the country. The initiative is aimed at strengthening inmate healthcare, with special emphasis on the welfare of female inmates, mental health services and access to quality medical care.
According to a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji, the Controller-General said the proposed inclusion of inmates in the NHIS would provide sustainable access to healthcare in correctional facilities. Nwakuche added that while some states had already enrolled inmates into their respective health insurance schemes, discussions were progressing towards achieving nationwide coverage under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) framework. The corrections boss said the distribution of essential medicines formed part of a broader healthcare reform agenda designed to improve medical services and support inmate rehabilitation. He noted that the quarterly distribution of essential medicines forms part of a broader healthcare reform agenda aimed at strengthening medical services, reducing the burden of disease, improving mental health support, and enhancing the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.
Nwakuche also said his administration had prioritised the healthcare needs of female inmates, describing them as one of the most vulnerable groups in custodial facilities. He said his administration has deliberately prioritised their unique healthcare needs, particularly menstrual hygiene management and other gender-specific sanitary requirements, as part of efforts to uphold their dignity and wellbeing. The Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Glory Essien, described the nationwide distribution of essential drugs as a major milestone in the Service's healthcare reform agenda. She said the intervention would substantially enhance inmates' health and wellbeing while reducing the incidence of epidemics and other communicable diseases across custodial centres. Essien also urged caregivers and medical personnel to ensure that the medicines were used strictly for their intended purposes in line with professional and ethical standards.
Also speaking, the Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Pharmacy, Muhammed Bashir, said the Service had institutionalised a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability in the use of the distributed drugs. He explained that the framework would provide effective oversight of drug utilisation, guarantee transparency in the management of pharmaceutical supplies, and ensure that the medicines reach the intended beneficiaries in custodial centres nationwide. Nwakuche expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for supporting correctional reforms and commended the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his interventions aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving inmate welfare.
The push for nationwide enrolment follows earlier steps taken by some states and the Federal Capital Territory. In June 2026, the Federal Capital Territory Administration enrolled 379 inmates across custodial centres in Abuja into the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Health Insurance Scheme as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery within correctional facilities. The initiative was aimed at ensuring the inclusion of inmates in health insurance schemes across the country and expanding access to quality healthcare for persons in custody. Similarly, the Osun State Government had earlier commenced the enrollment of about 1,100 inmates at the Ilesa and Ile-Ife Correctional Centres into its free health insurance scheme.
The NCoS has been actively pursuing the integration of inmates into the national health insurance framework for over a year. In December 2025, Nwakuche paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, to advocate for the integration of inmates into the National Health Insurance programmes to ensure sustainable and comprehensive medical care across custodial centres nationwide. During that visit, he emphasised that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right and a critical component of effective correctional management and rehabilitation. He also stressed that inmates remained citizens of Nigeria and should not be excluded from national social protection programmes, particularly health insurance. Ohiri, in response, identified inmates as a vulnerable population and assured that NHIA would work closely with NCoS to develop a clear and workable framework to ensure their inclusion in the health insurance system. He disclosed that both organisations would constitute joint teams to begin work on the collaboration immediately.
The NCoS currently has about 81,000 inmates spread across over 250 custodial facilities nationwide, including women, persons living with disabilities and babies born within custodial centres. One of the major challenges facing the Service is access to healthcare. Often, when inmates are taken to hospitals, treatment is delayed because hospitals demand upfront payment before services can commence, and this has led to unfortunate fatalities. The enrolment of inmates into the NHIS is expected to address this challenge by ensuring that inmates have seamless access to healthcare services through Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs). The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to integrate inmates into other national systems, including the National Identity Management Commission's capture of inmates under the National Identification Number scheme and ongoing discussions with the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow inmates to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The NCoS has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for supporting correctional reforms and commended the Minister of Interior for his interventions aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving inmate welfare. As the Service works towards achieving nationwide coverage under the NHIA framework, the enrolment of inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme represents a significant step towards ensuring that the health and wellbeing of persons in custody are prioritised within the national healthcare framework, supporting the broader goal of sustainable health and rehabilitation for all Nigerians.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments