In an effort to address overcrowding in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, four state governors have pardoned more than 120 inmates across various custodial centres over the past three months.
According to The PUNCH, the move is part of ongoing efforts to reduce congestion in the country’s correctional system, which currently holds far more inmates than its intended capacity.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State granted clemency to seven inmates on January 1 and released another on parole.
Similarly, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State extended mercy to 56 prisoners on the same day.
According to recent figures from the Nigerian Correctional Service, the total number of inmates nationwide has surged to 79,669, significantly exceeding the system’s maximum capacity of just over 50,000.
The data also reveals that 52,771 individuals remain in custody while awaiting trial, many facing serious charges such as armed robbery, murder, and culpable homicide, which require lengthy investigations and court proceedings.
The NCoS Comptroller-General, Sylvester Nwakuche, has expressed concerns over the rising number of inmates on death row.
“The number of condemned prisoners has increased from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025. This highlights the ongoing challenge of prison congestion,” he stated.
Nwakuche also attributed the persistent overcrowding to the reluctance of state governors to make decisions on death row cases.
“State governors are part of our challenges. They refuse to execute inmates sentenced to death, nor do they commute their sentences to life imprisonment,” he said.
