Nigeria’s inmate population has increased significantly over the past eight years, rising from 69,946 in 2017 to 81,710 in the second quarter of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS disclosed this in its Nigerian Correctional Service Statistics for 2017 to Q2 2025, released on Wednesday in Abuja. The figure represents a 16.82 per cent increase over the period under review.
According to the bureau, the report presents comprehensive data from the Nigerian Correctional Service, covering inmate population trends, correctional centre capacity, unsentenced inmates, and admissions between 2017 and Q2 2025.
The report revealed that Lagos State recorded the highest inmate population in Q2 2025, with 9,209 inmates against a correctional centre capacity of 4,167, translating to an overcrowding ratio of 221 per cent.
Other states with high inmate populations include Ogun with 4,939 inmates, Kano with 4,667, and Enugu with 3,536.
Conversely, Kogi State recorded the lowest inmate population at 530, followed by Bayelsa with 696 and Benue with 777 inmates.
The NBS report also showed that the number of unsentenced inmates rose from 47,610 in 2017 to 53,790 in Q2 2025, representing a 12.98 per cent increase over the period.
While correctional centre capacity expanded from 53,752 in 2017 to 65,035 in Q2 2025—a 20.99 per cent increase—the growth has not kept pace with the rising inmate population, contributing to persistent overcrowding.
At the end of 2024, Nigeria’s correctional facilities recorded a total of 176,536 inmate admissions across various offences. Remand and awaiting trial cases accounted for the highest number of admissions at 94,614, while condemned cases were the lowest at 2,883.
In terms of offences, stealing recorded the highest number of admissions at 55,722, followed by other offences at 46,043 and armed robbery at 10,090.
Bribery and corruption accounted for the least number of admissions at 27, followed by cybercrime at 48 and smuggling at 118.
The report highlights ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s correctional system, particularly overcrowding and the high number of awaiting-trial inmates, underscoring the need for sustained justice sector reforms.
