Minister: 93% of Inmates Held for State Offences, Prisons Decongested by 5% in One Day

Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed that 93% of inmates in Nigerian custodial facilities are held for state offences. Only 7% face federal charges. He ordered an audit of inmates jailed for minor fines and compensation under ₦500,000 and freed over 4,000 people in a single day. This action alone cut congestion by 5% overnight. Recidivism also fell sharply, from about 13,000 cases in 2023 to 1,000 last year. Expanded access to education and vocational training helped drive this decline. The minister noted that Nigeria has recorded no jailbreaks in three years. Improved data management and inter-agency sharing made this possible, he said.

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