Between January 2022 and December 2024, a total of 7,228 inmates were pardoned by federal and state governments, chief justices, and non-governmental organizations, in a bid to decongest Nigeria’s overcrowded correctional centres.

Recent data from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) indicates that the current inmate population stands at 79,125, significantly surpassing the system’s capacity of just over 50,000. Of this number, 52,903 inmates are awaiting trial, with many facing serious charges such as armed robbery, murder, and culpable homicide, requiring lengthy investigations and trials.

The pardon process began in 2022, with 707 inmates released. In 2023, the number increased dramatically to 4,678, and by 2024, another 1,843 individuals were freed. One of the most significant releases took place on November 18, 2023, when 4,068 inmates were pardoned across the country due to their inability to pay fines. This initiative was supported by N585 million raised through corporate social responsibility efforts by various organizations.

Abubakar Umar, spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, explained that the primary cause of overcrowding in correctional facilities is delays in the justice system. To alleviate this, the NCoS has taken steps such as ensuring inmates have timely access to judicial proceedings and facilitating their court appearances. The service has also introduced non-custodial measures, including community service and probation, to ease the burden on correctional centres.

Furthermore, the NCoS has been working closely with state governments to grant clemency to reformed inmates and regularly conducting jail delivery exercises in partnership with state judiciaries. These ongoing efforts aim to reduce congestion in Nigerian prisons and ensure more efficient handling of inmates’ cases.