In a major step toward justice reform, the federal government has released over 4,000 inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria, citing efforts to decongest prisons and uphold human dignity.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the announcement on Thursday during a meeting with Chinedu Ogah, chairman of the House of Representatives committee on reformatory institutions, in Abuja.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the country’s inmate population has dropped from over 86,000 to approximately 81,450, thanks to a strategic review of minor offence cases.
“The correctional service remains a key priority. We must uphold the dignity of even the most vulnerable citizens,” he stated.
He commended the National Assembly for backing the ministry’s ongoing reforms, describing the collaboration between the executive and legislature as critical to long-term justice transformation.
Ogah reaffirmed support for the reforms, noting they align with President Bola Tinubu’s broader vision for national development and justice system overhaul.
Similar moves are gaining ground at the state level. In May, Gombe Chief Judge Halima Mohammed ordered the release of 85 inmates from custodial centres in Gombe and Billiri, following facility visits by the state’s criminal justice and inquiry committee.
She said the visits aimed to identify inmates eligible for bail or unconditional release further reflecting a national shift toward rehabilitation and fairness in Nigeria’s correctional system.
