Number of unsentenced inmates rises 12% to 53,790 in 9 yrs – NBS

*Lagos state records highest inmates, overcrowding ratio 221%

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The number of unsentenced inmates in Nigeria correctional centers rose by 12.9 percent to 53,790 in  over nine years (2017-Q2’25 ( second quarter of 2025).

The National Bureau of Statistics,  NBS, disclosed this in its Nigeria  Correctional Service Statistics Report for the review period. 

According to the Bureau,  the Correctional Centres’ Capacity increased by 20.99 percent  to  65,035 inmates in Q2’25  from 53,752 inmates in 2017.

“This report presents data from the Nigerian Correctional Service covering 2017 to Q2 2025 on the prison inmate population, correctional centres capacity, unsentenced inmates, and admissions.

“Between 2017 and Q2 2025, the Correctional Centres’ Capacity increased from 53,752 to 65,035, representing a 20.99 per increase over the period.

“The number of unsentenced inmates rose from 47,610 in 2017 to 53,790 in Q2 2025, showing an increase of 12.98 percent.

“Similarly, the total inmate population rose from 69,946 in 2017 to 81,710 in Q2 2025, indicating a 16.82 percent increase over the reference period.”

The report also showed that Lagos state had the highest inmate population which reflected an overcrowding ratio of 221 percent during the review period.

“In Q2 2025, Lagos state recorded the highest inmate population with 9,209 inmates, and 4,167 Correctional Centres Capacity, showing an overcrowding ratio of 221 percent. 

“Other states with high inmate populations were Ogun (4,939), Kano (4,667), and Enugu (3,536). Conversely, Kogi had the lowest inmate population (530), followed by Bayelsa (696), and Benue (777).

“At the end of 2024, Nigeria’s correctional facilities had a total of 176,536 inmate admissions across various offences. “Remand/awaiting trial cases recorded the highest admissions with 94,614 inmates, while condemned cases had the lowest with 2,883 inmates. 

“In terms of type of offences, Stealing recorded the highest number of admissions at 55,722, followed by Other Offences (46,043) and Armed Robbery (10,090), while Bribery and Corruption recorded the least with 27, followed by Cyber Crime (48), and Smuggling (118).”

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