The Federal Government has released 4,550 inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria in a major move to decongest overcrowded prisons and promote justice reform.
Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the release in Abuja during a meeting with the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah.
He said the number of inmates has now dropped from over 86,000 to about 81,450.
The minister explained that the releases targeted non-violent offenders, including those detained for bailable offences and people who had spent long periods in pre-trial detention.
“This initiative is part of a wider correctional reform to bring Nigeria’s practices in line with global standards,” Tunji-Ojo stated. “These centres are not just for punishment but for reforming people. We have a moral and constitutional duty to treat inmates with dignity.”
A statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Ozoya Imohimi, quoted the minister as reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to justice and humanity through sustained reforms of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also emphasized that the way a government treats its most vulnerable citizens reflects its strength and commitment to democracy.
He pledged stronger ties with the National Assembly to enhance efficiency and inclusion within correctional institutions.
“We’re building a system where even those forgotten by society will not be left behind,” he added.
In response, Hon. Chinedu Ogah praised the reforms, calling them a practical expression of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He assured the minister of his committee’s full support and strong oversight to ensure that correctional reforms are sustained and effective.
Ogah noted, “These efforts are repositioning our correctional system to better serve justice, rehabilitation, and national development.”