As of September 3, 2024, Nigeria’s prison population has risen to 84,741, with 3,590 prisoners currently on death row, according to Abubakar Umar, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Umar, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, revealed the gender breakdown of the inmates, stating, “Out of the total 84,741 inmates, 82,821 are males, and 1,920 are females.”
He expressed concern about the high number of prisoners, particularly those awaiting trial, which poses a significant challenge to the Service. “The majority of inmates in custody are awaiting trial persons, and this backlog creates substantial difficulties for us,” he noted.
Umar detailed the inmate demographics: “Convicted inmates total 21,900, including 21,519 males and 381 females, while those serving life sentences are 1,501, comprising 1,478 males and 23 females. The death row population includes 3,517 males and 73 females, amounting to a total of 3,590.”
To address the congestion, Umar mentioned several initiatives backed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. “These initiatives have led to the release of 4,063 individuals who were able to pay fines or compensation,” he added.
He also highlighted steps being taken to ease custodial congestion, such as constructing new facilities, expanding community sentencing, improving court logistics, and collaborating with other agencies to enhance security and operational results. “There have been no internal disturbances reported, and significant improvements have been made in inmate care and rehabilitation programs,” Umar stated.
Educational opportunities are also expanding within the prison system. “As of August 31, 2024, 1,282 inmates were enrolled in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) special study center. Of these, 1,215 are pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees, 62 are working on Postgraduate Diplomas and Master’s degrees, and five are studying for Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with three currently writing their theses,” he said.”
