Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reported that a total of 27,416 inmates were convicted across custodial centres nationwide in 2025, while a significantly higher number — 50,703 individuals — remain in custody awaiting trial as the year draws to a close. The statistics, released by the service and reviewed by national media, cast a spotlight on the ongoing challenge of prison overcrowding and judicial bottlenecks that continue to strain Nigeria’s justice and corrections systems.
According to the latest figures, the 27,416 convictions recorded this year reflect the portion of the inmate population that has successfully navigated the judicial process and been found guilty of criminal offences. However, the much larger number of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) — detainees who have not yet been tried in court — underscores a systemic issue that has plagued the corrections sector for years. The disproportion between convicts and those awaiting trial highlights persistent delays in court proceedings and the slow pace of case disposal in many jurisdictions.
The NCoS data, made public in December 2025, also revealed that the number of awaiting-trial inmates has grown compared with earlier figures. In January of this year, the service reported around 48,932 ATPs nationwide, illustrating that ongoing judicial delays have continued to contribute to jail population pressures rather than alleviating them.
The persistence of high numbers of detainees awaiting trial carries significant implications for Nigeria’s correctional environment. Overcrowding — driven largely by prolonged pretrial detention — has been a scourge of custodial centres, raising concerns about living conditions, health risks, and human rights. Overcrowded facilities struggle to provide adequate living space, healthcare, sanitation, and rehabilitative services, complicating efforts to promote humane detention and rehabilitation.
The financial toll on government has also been emphasised. NCoS analysts note that the cost of maintaining a large inmate population is substantial, with daily feeding and welfare expenses for awaiting-trial detainees adding pressure to already strained public resources. These costs, borne by the Federal Government and state administrations, reflect the broader economic burden of prolonged detention without resolution.
While a high number of awaiting trial inmates has long been recognised as a systemic challenge, experts and justice advocates say the current statistics underscore an urgent need for reforms. Delays in prosecution and trial, frequent court adjournments, limited legal representation for indigent detainees, and procedural inefficiencies are among the factors cited as drivers of the backlog. These issues often leave accused persons in custody for extended periods before their cases are heard or concluded.
Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015, which includes provisions aimed at expediting trials and reducing unnecessary pretrial detentions, has been underutilised in many jurisdictions. Advocates argue that full implementation of ACJA provisions — including increased use of bail, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and stricter timelines for trial proceedings — could help reduce the growing population of awaiting-trial inmates.
In response to the backlog, the Controller-General of the NCoS has previously engaged with key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, prosecuting agencies, and law enforcement bodies to coordinate efforts that accelerate case processing. These collaborative efforts seek to ease the detention burden by facilitating quicker prosecution of cases, particularly those involving non-bailable offences like armed robbery and murder, which often require extensive investigation but contribute significantly to the number of ATPs.
Civil society organisations and human rights groups have long called for increased judicial efficiency, better funding for the justice system, and expanded legal aid services to help indigent defendants navigate the court process. They argue that addressing systemic bottlenecks would not only improve the prospects for just and speedy trials but also alleviate the human cost of prolonged incarceration for detainees who have not been convicted of any offence.
The 2025 figures, highlighting both convictions and awaiting trials, reveal the dual nature of Nigeria’s correctional landscape: a functioning criminal justice system capable of delivering verdicts for thousands of defendants, and a parallel backlog that continues to trap tens of thousands of people in prolonged custodian limbo. As policymakers, justice stakeholders, and civil society continue to grapple with these issues, calls for deeper reforms and more robust judicial collaboration are expected to intensify in the coming year.
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