No fewer than 7,900 inmates were pardoned or released by federal and state governments, as well as chief justices, between January 2022 and December 2025 in efforts to decongest Nigeria’s overcrowded correctional centres.
The figures were compiled from media reports, the websites of the Nigerian Correctional Service and state government records.
Latest data from the NCoS show that the country’s total inmate population stands at 78,119, far exceeding the system’s capacity of just over 50,000.
Of this number, 50,703 inmates are awaiting trial, many of them for serious offences such as armed robbery, murder, and culpable homicide—cases that often involve lengthy investigations and prolonged prosecution.
In 2022, at least 707 inmates were pardoned. The figure rose sharply in 2023, when 4,678 inmates were released. In 2024, 1,843 inmates regained their freedom, while no fewer than 730 inmates were pardoned in 2025.
One of the largest single releases occurred on November 18, 2023, when 4,068 inmates were discharged nationwide after the Federal Government, supported by corporate organisations and other individuals, raised N585m to settle the fines imp
In October 2025, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to decongesting custodial centres nationwide, saying relevant agencies were intensifying efforts to accelerate judicial processes and ensure speedier trials for awaiting-trial inmates.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during an unscheduled inspection of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja.
He said the ministry was working closely with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to reduce delays in the conviction process.
“I want to assure you that we are working very closely with the AGF on ways to decongest our correctional centres,” he said.
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