In a sweeping move aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s congested correctional system, the Federal Government says it has released more than 4,000 inmates across custodial centres nationwide.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Thursday during a strategic meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, chaired by Hon. Chinedu Ogah, in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the release followed a nationwide review of cases, with a focus on inmates held for minor and non-violent offences.
According to him, the total number of inmates has now dropped from over 86,000 to about 81,450.
“The correctional service remains a key priority. We must uphold the dignity of even the most vulnerable citizens,” the minister stated.
The minister lauded the National Assembly for its legislative backing, describing the synergy between both arms of government as crucial to achieving sustainable reforms in the justice sector.
Hon. Ogah affirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader vision for judicial reforms and national development.
He said the Committee would continue to support efforts aimed at humanising the country’s penal system.
The federal intervention mirrors ongoing efforts at the state level. In May, Justice Halima Mohammed, Chief Judge of Gombe State, ordered the release of 85 inmates from the Gombe and Billiri correctional centres during a visit by the state’s Criminal Justice and Inquiry Committee.
Justice Mohammed said the visits were designed to identify inmates qualified for bail or unconditional release, stressing the need to reduce the pressure on correctional facilities.
Overcrowding in Nigerian prisons has long been a challenge, with more than 70 percent of inmates on awaiting-trial lists.
Analysts believe the latest mass release marks a significant step in addressing the crisis, though they caution that deeper systemic reforms are still urgently required.
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