The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that thousands of inmates in Nigeria’s correctional centres were imprisoned for minor offences that did not deserve custodial sentences, saying the situation has contributed significantly to the persistent overcrowding of prisons across the country.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the Regional Conference on the Classification of Prisoners and the Use of Technology in Prisons in Africa. The conference was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the African Correctional Services Association (ACSA).
The minister said the Federal Government discovered that many inmates were being kept in correctional facilities simply because they could not pay small fines or compensation ordered by the courts, even though the cost of feeding and maintaining them in custody was far higher than the amount they owed.
According to him, one of the first actions he took after assuming office was to direct the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to compile records of inmates who were in custody over fines and compensation below N500,000.
The outcome of the review, he said, exposed the extent of the problem.
“Shortly after I assumed office, I directed the Permanent Secretary and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to provide records of inmates who were in custody over fines and compensation of less than N500,000. The review showed that more than 4,000 people fell into that category,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that after examining the cases, the government concluded that it was not economically sensible or beneficial to continue keeping such offenders behind bars.
“It made no sense for the government to spend far more on feeding inmates than the value of the fines they owed. After reviewing those cases, we cleared them and reduced the population of our correctional centres by about five per cent in a single day,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo described the exercise as one of the practical steps taken by the Federal Government to address congestion in correctional centres while ensuring that justice remains fair and effective.
He stressed that imprisonment should not always be the first option for every offence, particularly where alternative punishments such as fines, community service or compensation could achieve the same objective without placing unnecessary pressure on correctional facilities.
The minister also revealed that the majority of inmates in Nigerian correctional centres are not serving sentences for federal offences.
According to him, about 93 per cent of inmates are state offenders, while only seven per cent are in custody for federal offences.
The figure, he noted, shows that state governments and the criminal justice system at the state level have a major role to play in tackling prison congestion through reforms that encourage non-custodial sentencing for minor offences.
Tunji-Ojo said the challenge is not unique to Nigeria, noting that many African countries are facing similar problems because prisons continue to house large numbers of people convicted of offences that do not necessarily require imprisonment.
“You have to look at those particular offences. You will realise that more than 30, 40 or even 50 per cent are offences that do not warrant incarceration,” he said.
He called on governments across the continent to rethink their approach to criminal justice by embracing modern correctional practices that focus on rehabilitation rather than simply locking offenders away.
The minister also highlighted the importance of proper classification of inmates, saying correctional centres should separate prisoners according to the nature of their offences, security risk and rehabilitation needs.
He explained that effective inmate classification helps correctional authorities improve security, reduce violence inside prisons and provide programs that better prepare offenders for life after release.
Tunji-Ojo further advocated greater use of technology in correctional administration, saying digital tools can improve record-keeping, inmate management, security monitoring and overall efficiency within prison systems.
He said technology would also strengthen transparency and accountability in correctional services while helping authorities make informed decisions about inmate welfare and rehabilitation.
Nigeria’s correctional centres have struggled with overcrowding for many years. Official figures have consistently shown that a large proportion of inmates are awaiting trial, while others remain in custody because they are unable to meet bail conditions or pay court-imposed fines.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, which replaced the former Nigerian Prisons Service following the enactment of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act in 2019, is expected to focus not only on secure custody but also on the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
The Act also introduced non-custodial measures, including community service, probation and restorative justice, to reduce unnecessary imprisonment and promote alternative forms of punishment where appropriate.
However, implementation of these measures has remained slow in many parts of the country, leading to continued pressure on correctional facilities.
Stakeholders in the justice sector have consistently urged judges, magistrates, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to make greater use of the non-custodial provisions provided by law, especially for first-time offenders and those convicted of less serious crimes.
They argue that overcrowded prisons not only increase government expenditure but also create health, security and human rights challenges.
The Abuja conference brought together correctional officials, policymakers and experts from across Africa to discuss strategies for improving prison management, inmate classification and the use of technology to strengthen correctional systems across the continent.
Participants also explored ways to promote reforms that balance public safety with respect for human rights while ensuring that correctional facilities serve as centres for rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
Tunji-Ojo said meaningful reforms require collaboration among governments, correctional institutions, development partners and the judiciary.