Fresh reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system are showing positive results, according to the Federal Government. Authorities say the number of former inmates returning to crime has fallen dramatically, a trend linked to strengthened rehabilitation efforts in custodial centres nationwide.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in Abuja during the presentation of an investigative report on the state of the nation’s custodial centres.
Tunji-Ojo attributed the sharp decline to sustained investment in inmate rehabilitation and educational reform programmes across correctional facilities.
Providing a breakdown of recent inmate traffic, the minister revealed that 15,632 inmates were admitted into custody in May 2026, while 14,190 inmates were released after completing their terms within the same period.
He said recidivism dropped from 11,616 cases in 2023 to 1,382 in 2025, describing the development as evidence that ongoing reforms are yielding results.
The minister, however, stressed that government would not consider the effort successful until repeat offending is eliminated. He also assured stakeholders that the findings of the investigative panel would be fully implemented, with plans to establish an independent monitoring and evaluation framework.
As part of planned reforms, Tunji-Ojo identified several ageing custodial centres, including the Suleja facility built in 1914 and the Ikoyi custodial centre built in 1955, for relocation. He noted that urban expansion had encroached on security buffer zones around facilities in Enugu, Abakaliki, Ibadan and Lagos, raising operational concerns.
The minister called on state governments to support relocation efforts, noting that the majority of inmates are state offenders and that 67 per cent are awaiting trial.
He also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has approved a 50 per cent increase in inmate feeding allowances, with funding already provided by the Ministry of Finance.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, said the investigative panel by inspected 86 custodial centres across 23 states as part of its assessment. Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, welcomed the report, describing the exercise as a step toward greater accountability within the correctional system.
The investigation was launched following a controversial 2024 scandal involving celebrity cross-dresser Bobrisky, which resulted in disciplinary action against senior correctional officials.
