Prisons under strain as nearly 2 of every 3 inmates awaiting trial

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that awaiting trial inmates constitute 64 percent of the total custodial population which is putting pressure on correctional facilities across the country. This statistic means that nearly two out of every inmate in the country are on awaiting trial list.

Sylvester Nwakuche, controller-general of the Service, made this known while presenting the agency’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja, during which he appealed for more funding.

He explained that the total inmate population stood at 80,812 as of February 9, 2026, out of which 51,955 are awaiting trial inmates, 24,913 are convicted inmates, while 3,850 fall under other detention categories.

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He also disclosed that the Service currently has a staff strength of 33,024, comprising uniformed personnel, medical professionals and civilian employees deployed across the national headquarters, zonal formations, state commands and custodial facilities.

Appeals for more funds

On 2026 Budget Proposal, Nwakuche presented a proposed N198.85 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year and appealed for additional funding to address critical operational and infrastructure needs.

The proposal covers personnel costs, recurrent overhead, inmate feeding, operational expenses and capital expenditure for both custodial and non-custodial operations nationwide.

He said N138.30 billion was proposed for personnel costs in 2026 to cater for a projected staff strength of 37,541 operating under four salary structures.

A total of N50.40 billion was proposed for recurrent overhead expenditure, including inmate feeding and general operations. Of this amount, N14.83 billion is earmarked for feeding an estimated inmate population of 91,100 at a daily rate of N1,125 per inmate.

The CG  further appealed for the approval of an additional N90.38 billion to boost capital funding, which would raise total capital allocation to about N100.50 billion to address infrastructure deficits and capacity development across correctional facilities.

He also requested a dedicated provision of N37.99 billion to support the effective implementation of non-custodial measures across the 774 local government areas of the country.

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Reforms call grow louder

Chinedu Ogah, chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions,  called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, including increased funding, improved infrastructure and presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill.

He urged the President to assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill already passed by the National Assembly, noting that it would strengthen constitutional provisions empowering states to establish correctional facilities and ease pressure on federal centres.