27,416 inmates convicted in 2025 – Report

A cross section of underaged inmates at Badagry Prisons. Photo: Odutayo Odusanya

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The Nigerian Correctional Service has disclosed that 27,416 inmates across custodial centres nationwide have been convicted, while 50,703 others are currently awaiting trial as 2025 runs to an end.

The figures, contained in the latest statistics released by the NCoS and reviewed by our correspondent on Friday, highlight the continued challenge of overcrowding of the custodial centre driven large by the high number of Awaiting Trial Persons.

According to the service, the large population of inmates awaiting trial has placed a huge financial burden on the Federal Government.

With the NCoS spending about N1,125 daily to feed each inmate, the cost of maintaining more than 50,000 awaiting-trial inmates has substantially increased government expenditure on custodial facilities nationwide.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that many of those awaiting trial are facing serious charges, including murder, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.

Such cases often require lengthy investigations and prolonged prosecution, contributing to delays in the judicial process.

In January 2025, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed that 48,932 Awaiting Trial Persons were being held in custodial centres across the country.

At the time, he announced plans to engage with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Inspector-General of Police, and other prosecuting agencies and key stakeholders to accelerate the trial process.

However, by December, the number of inmates awaiting trial had risen to 50,703.

As part of broader efforts to improve the correctional system and ensure the safety of inmates, Nwakuche this week cautioned personnel against forming ties with inmates, warning that such misconduct undermines ongoing reforms and can worsen systemic problems such as overcrowding and delayed trials.

The CG stressed that collusion with inmates would attract severe sanctions.

The PUNCH journalist, Gift, has over three years of experience covering elections, security and foreign affairs.

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