Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that the vast majority of inmates in the country’s correctional facilities are being held for state offences, with many serving time for offences that may not require imprisonment.
Speaking at the Regional Conference on the Classification of Prisoners and the Use of Technology in Prisons in Africa held in Abuja, the minister disclosed that 93 percent of inmates in Nigerian custodial centres are state offenders, while only 7 percent are being held for federal offences. (Vanguard News)
Tunji-Ojo explained that many of those currently behind bars were imprisoned for relatively minor offences, arguing that incarceration is not always the best solution in such cases.
According to him, shortly after assuming office, he directed officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Correctional Service to compile records of inmates detained over unpaid fines and compensation of less than ₦500,000.
The review uncovered more than 4,000 inmates who fell into that category. The minister said the government immediately facilitated their release, reducing the population of correctional centres by about 5 percent in a single day. (Vanguard News)
He noted that keeping such offenders behind bars placed an unnecessary financial burden on the government, as the cost of feeding and maintaining them in custody often exceeded the value of the fines they owed.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that correctional facilities should primarily house individuals whose offences genuinely require imprisonment, adding that many offenders could instead be subjected to alternative forms of punishment such as community service, fines, rehabilitation programmes or other non-custodial measures.
The minister further challenged correctional authorities across Africa to rethink the continent’s approach to prison management by embracing technology and modern prisoner classification systems.
According to him, a more scientific and digital approach to inmate classification would help identify offenders who pose little risk to society while ensuring correctional facilities focus resources on rehabilitating dangerous criminals.
He also called for stronger collaboration among African countries to improve prison administration, reduce overcrowding and promote justice systems that balance public safety with rehabilitation.
The minister’s remarks have renewed discussions on prison reforms in Nigeria, with legal experts and human rights advocates continuing to push for greater use of non-custodial sentencing for minor offences as a way of easing congestion in correctional centres.
The Koko of the Story Be Say:
Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo, don reveal say 93% of prisoners for Nigeria na state offenders, while only 7% commit federal offences. According to am, plenty people wey dey prison no suppose dey there because their offences no serious reach prison sentence. E talk say government don release over 4,000 inmates wey dey prison because of small fines, and e dey encourage more prison reforms to reduce overcrowding and make justice system work better.
