In response to a recent newspaper report linking tuberculosis outbreaks to Nigerian prisons, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted the claims, highlighting its ongoing health and safety measures for inmates.
The Service’s Public Relations Officer, Jane Osuji, described the report published on January 3, 2026, as inaccurate and misleading, noting that it painted custodial facilities as unchecked “hotbeds” for tuberculosis.
“The report adopted a sensational tone, giving the impression of systemic neglect where none exists”, Osuji said in a statement from Abuja. She added that the reporter had requested information on TB treatment and control measures, to which the NCoS provided detailed and factual responses, yet the report ignored this data.
The NCoS emphasized that health clinics operate in all custodial facilities nationwide, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), other health authorities, and NGOs. Inmates diagnosed with tuberculosis are placed on nationally approved treatment regimens at no cost.
“Our healthcare system includes medical screenings upon entry, periodic health assessments, and strict infection control measures,” Osuji said. “The successful prevention of COVID-19 in our facilities demonstrates our ability to manage communicable diseases, including TB”.
While acknowledging challenges such as congestion in urban prisons, the Service noted ongoing decongestion efforts through jail delivery programs and the expansion of non-custodial measures. Plans are also underway to recruit additional medical professionals to further strengthen healthcare delivery.
The NCoS reiterated that while it welcomes constructive criticism, it rejects sensationalist reporting that misrepresents conditions in Nigeria’s custodial centres.
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