In a strategic push to reform Nigeria’s correctional system, the Federal Government has announced plans to significantly reduce the number of custodial centres across the country.
With 256 facilities currently in operation, authorities believe the sheer number is excessive and unsustainable.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this revelation on the 5th of March, 2025, in Abuja during a public hearing on alleged corruption and abuses within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
He revealed that while some prisons are overcrowded, many others operate at just 30-40% capacity, making them redundant and inefficient.
To address this imbalance, the government is set to relocate federal offenders to less congested facilities, ensuring better inmate management and resource allocation.
Tunji-Ojo further stressed that an overwhelming number of custodial centres creates major supervision challenges, leaving room for mismanagement and potential rights violations.
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Beyond restructuring facilities, the minister emphasized the urgent need for psychological evaluations of correctional officers, arguing that a humane approach to inmate treatment is a crucial indicator of governance quality.
He issued a stern warning against inhumane practices, making it clear that maltreatment of inmates will not be tolerated under the administration’s 2025 reforms.
With these sweeping changes on the horizon, Nigeria’s prison system may soon witness a transformation aimed at efficiency, fairness, and improved rehabilitation of inmates.