Nigeria’s Inmate Population Rises to 81,710 as Overcrowding Worsens in Lagos — NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigeria’s inmate population increased significantly between 2017 and the second quarter of 2025, rising from 69,946 to 81,710 inmates — a growth of 16.82 per cent. This was contained in the Nigerian Correctional Service Statistics for 2017 to Q2 2025, released on Wednesday in Abuja. The report provides comprehensive data on inmate population, correctional centre capacity, unsentenced inmates and admissions across the country. According to the NBS, Lagos State recorded the highest inmate population in Q2 2025 with 9,209 inmates, despite having a correctional capacity of just 4,167, resulting in an overcrowding rate of 221 per cent. Ogun State followed with 4,939 inmates, while Kano and Enugu recorded 4,667 and 3,536 inmates respectively. On the other end of the scale, Kogi had the lowest inmate population at 530, followed by Bayelsa with 696 and Benue with 777 inmates. The report also revealed a steady rise in the number of unsentenced inmates, which grew from 47,610 in 2017 to 53,790 in Q2 2025 — an increase of 12.98 per cent. Over the same period, the capacity of correctional centres nationwide expanded from 53,752 to 65,035, representing a 20.99 per cent increase. Furthermore, the NBS noted that Nigeria’s correctional facilities recorded a total of 176,536 inmate admissions in 2024 alone. Cases involving remand and awaiting trial accounted for the largest share with 94,614 admissions, while condemned cases recorded the lowest figure at 2,883. In terms of offences, stealing was the most common, accounting for 55,722 admissions, followed by other offences at 46,043 and armed robbery at 10,090. Bribery and corruption had the lowest number of admissions at 27, with cybercrime at 48 and smuggling at 118.