Challenges of Prison Farm Management in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper focuses on challenges of prison farm management in Nigeria. The empirical results are based on a qualitative and quantitative survey of 54 inmates and 17 prison officers in Ibite-Olo and Ozalla prison farms in Enugu and Edo States of Nigeria respectively. The findings show that the prison farms under study had collaboration with partner agencies such as the federal ministry of agriculture (57.9%), agricultural extension agents (47.4%), agricultural research institutes (42.1%) and NGOs (36.8%), among others. The necessary support from partner agencies covered the following: financial aid (78.9%) and sales/maintenance of farm machinery and implements (68.4%). Furthermore, inmates and prison officers stated the challenges hindering effective running of prison farms’ agricultural activities, including: inadequate funding, lack of physical infrastructure, inadequate farm equipment and poor storage facilities. The findings support the conclusion that the Nigerian Prison Service should make an upward review in its budgetary allocation to prison farms to enhance service delivery and inmate reformation, alongside provision of adequate infrastructure, equipment and farm inputs.