Inmates at the Correctional Center in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, protested on Friday against plans to reduce their food rations.
The protest started soon after inmates received information about the proposed downsizing of their meals.
Daily Trust reports that during the protest, the inmates refused to comply with orders from custodial officials.
They also went ahead to boycott breakfast.
As the crisis continues, Correctional officers in the centre resorted to using tear gas to disperse the gathering. They also mandated the inmates to return to their quarters.
Comptroller Raphael Ibinuhi of the Jos Correctional Center confirmed that “The issue stems from the soaring cost of goods in the market. The food contractor cited the escalating prices of food items as the reason for reducing the portion sizes.”
Economic Hardship: Protest Erupts in Borno, as Terrorists Lure Residents with Incentives
“While the protest may have been triggered by the food reduction, I believe it’s unnecessary. The challenges with food affordability are national in scope, and the federal government is already taking steps to address them. I trust that any measures implemented by the government to tackle this issue will have an impact nationwide, including within Correctional centres.”
The rise in the cost of living across the country has led to protests in various regions. Earlier in the week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) organized a nationwide protest over the cost of living.
There were also protests over the hardship in Minna, Kano, Abuja, Ibadan, and Lagos among other states.
The hardship is said to be a part of the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy and issues around floating of the Naira on May 29, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
