The Nigeria Correctional Service has disclosed that awaiting trial inmates account for 64 percent of the total custodial population, underscoring persistent congestion in correctional facilities across the country.
Controller General Sylvester Nwakuche made the revelation on Wednesday while defending the agency 2025 budget performance and presenting its 2026 estimates before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to Nwakuche, as of February 9, 2026, the total inmate population stood at 80,812. Of this figure, 51,955 are awaiting trial inmates, 24,913 are convicted inmates, while 3,850 fall under other detention categories. He noted that many custodial centres were built decades ago and now operate far beyond their designed capacity.
Reviewing the 2025 budget, Nwakuche said the Service received 184.63 billion naira in total appropriation. Of the 124.31 billion naira allocated for personnel costs, 112.68 billion naira representing 90.6 percent was released and fully utilised. From overhead releases, 27.28 billion naira was spent on inmate feeding, with outstanding food ration obligations of 10.75 billion naira. Capital funding recorded only 22.2 percent implementation.
For 2026, the Service proposed a budget of 198.85 billion naira and requested additional capital funding to address infrastructure deficits, clear promotion arrears, and strengthen non custodial measures nationwide.
Chairman of the Committee, Chinedu Ogah, called for urgent reforms, improved funding, and presidential assent to the Correctional Service Trust Fund Bill to ease pressure on federal facilities and enhance rehabilitation efforts.
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