The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that the number of inmates on death row has increased from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025.
This represents a 2.73% rise, with 98 additional prisoners sentenced to death within six months.
The NCoS is now calling for enhanced collaboration with key security and judicial agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to expedite the justice process and address the issue of overcrowded prisons.
Acting Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, made this known during his screening for confirmation as the substantive Controller-General before the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole. Accompanied by top officials from the service, Nwakuche highlighted the pressing challenges facing correctional facilities, with a large number of inmates still awaiting trial.
“Our major challenge is the high number of inmates awaiting trial,” Nwakuche stated. “The number of death row inmates has now reached 3,688, yet state governors are not signing execution warrants or commuting their sentences to life imprisonment. If converted to life sentences, we could redistribute these inmates to less congested rural correctional centers.”
He emphasized that prison congestion is primarily an urban issue, with urban correctional facilities struggling with overcrowding. Redistributing inmates to rural facilities, he explained, would help ease the burden on the system.
To address these challenges, the acting comptroller-general reiterated the need for stronger partnerships with security agencies to ensure a more efficient judicial process. He noted that many inmates have been in prison longer than their potential sentences due to delays in trial proceedings.
“The justice system moves too slowly,” he lamented. “Some inmates have spent five or six years in prison awaiting trial, even when their actual sentence would have been two or three years. Such individuals should be discharged and acquitted.”
Nwakuche disclosed that he has already met with key stakeholders, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, to push for solutions. Many inmates, he said, are awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, prolonging their stay behind bars unnecessarily.
In response, Senator Adams Oshiomhole assured that the Senate Committee on Interior would review Nwakuche’s performance and submit its report accordingly.
