FG Frees 4,000 Inmates to Decongest Nigerian Prisons | The Nigeria Times
Move Targets Overcrowded Correctional Centres
The Federal Government has approved the release of 4,000 inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria as part of efforts to ease overcrowding in custodial facilities and improve the country’s correctional system.
The development was disclosed by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atinkeye Babatunde, who claimed the decision followed one of the demands he presented during a recent visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
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According to Babatunde, the student body had urged the authorities to prioritise the release of inmates who are being held unjustly or remain in custody because they are unable to meet their bail conditions.
“We demanded that prisoners who are unjustly detained or those still in custody because of bail conditions should be released. Today’s decision to free 4,000 inmates is a welcome development,” he said.
The release is expected to reduce pressure on correctional centres, many of which have continued to grapple with overcrowding due to the high number of awaiting-trial inmates.
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Stakeholders have repeatedly called for reforms within Nigeria’s criminal justice system, stressing the need for speedy trials and greater use of non-custodial measures for minor offences.
Although the Federal Government has yet to provide a detailed breakdown of the beneficiaries or the correctional centres involved, the move is being seen as part of ongoing efforts to decongest correctional facilities and improve inmates’ welfare.
The Nigeria Correctional Service has consistently maintained that reducing the number of awaiting-trial inmates remains a key priority in addressing congestion across custodial centres.
