Rita Odafe
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that there are currently more than 3,500 inmates on death row across the custodial centres in the country.
The NCoS Public Relations Officer, Assistant Controller of Corrections, Abubakar Umar, shared this information with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on September 4, 2024.
As of September 3, 2024, the total inmate population in centers nationwide stands at 84,741, with 82,821 males and 1,920 females. Among them, there are 57,750 Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATIs), consisting of 56,303 males and 1,447 females.
According to Mr Umar, there are 21,900 convicted inmates (21,519 males and 381 females) and 1,501 lifers (1,478 males and 23 females). Additionally, there are 3,590 Inmates on Death Row (IDR) comprising 3,517 males and 73 females.
Mr Umar highlighted that the issue of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) poses a challenge due to their large numbers. The Service is working on ensuring timely judicial processing for these individuals.
Efforts are being made to reduce custodial congestion through various measures, such as the release of inmates, construction of new facilities, and enhancements in the treatment and care of inmates, with a focus on personal reformation and successful reintegration into society.
The NCoS has been building partnerships with other agencies to improve security in and around custodial facilities and reinforce them against external threats. The initiative has led to positive results with enhanced security and stability within the facilities.
Partnerships with institutions like the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have resulted in significant enrollment of inmates in academic programs. Currently, 1,282 inmates are enrolled at the NOUN special study center, pursuing various academic degrees.
The breakdown of NOUN inmate students includes 1,215 studying for Bachelor of Sciences, 62 for Post Graduate Diploma and Master degrees, and five pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees with three working on their thesis as of August 31, 2024.
