51,955 Out of 80,812 Inmates Awaiting Trial Nationwide – NCoS

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) on Wednesday hinted that 51,955 of the country’s 80,812 inmates of the national custodial population are awaiting trial.

Controller-General, Sylvester Nwakuche, who disclosed this during the Service’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 budget defence before the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions in Abuja, said this highlights severe congestion and mounting pressure on correctional facilities nationwide.

He said the figures underscore long-standing delays in the criminal justice system and the urgent need for reforms.

According to him, as of February 9, 2026, Nigeria’s inmate population comprised 24,913 convicted inmates and 3,850 detainees in other categories.

2025 Budget: Feeding, Operations Hit by Limited Releases

Nwakuche reported that the NCoS received a total ₦184.63bn in 2025, covering personnel, overhead and capital expenditure:

• ₦112.68bn (90.6%) released for personnel and fully utilised

• 73.7% of overhead released

• ₦27.28bn spent on inmate feeding

• ₦10.75bn still owed for food rations

• ₦6.49bn used for court operations, training, utilities and facility maintenance

• Capital spending stalled: only ₦3.22bn out of ₦14.50bn (22.2%) released.

He said the shortfalls affected the construction and rehabilitation of custodial centres, procurement of vehicles, security equipment, ICT systems and prison farm inputs.

The Service generated ₦84.65m internally in 2025 despite not being a revenue-driven agency.

2026 Proposal: NCoS Seeks ₦198.85bn, Requests Extra Capital Support

For 2026, NCoS is proposing ₦198.85bn, including:

• ₦138.30bn for personnel (projected staff strength: 37,541)

• ₦50.40bn for overheads, including ₦14.83bn for feeding an estimated 91,100 inmates at ₦1,125 per day

• A request for an additional ₦90.38bn for capital projects to raise infrastructure funding to about ₦100.50bn

• ₦37.99bn sought to expand non-custodial services across all 774 LGAs.

Nwakuche also asked lawmakers to approve funds to clear ₦30.38bn in promotion arrears (2019–2024) and ₦25.16bn owed contractors (2023–2025).

Trust Fund, Infrastructure Upgrade Now Critical

On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah, said the high pre-trial population shows why correctional centres need urgent reform, stronger funding and improved infrastructure.

He urged President Tinubu to sign the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill, arguing that it would:

• Reduce pressure on federal centres

• Strengthen state correctional infrastructure

• Improve rehabilitation and vocational programmes

Ogah also highlighted ongoing expansion of inmate education, with about 10 National Open University study centres now operational in custodial facilities nationwide.

He commended correctional officers for maintaining operations under difficult conditions and assured that the committee will fully review the 2025 performance before approving the 2026 budget.