By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), declaring that the report will serve as a blueprint for a comprehensive transformation of the nation’s correctional system.
According to an official signed statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Mary Ali, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance while receiving the panel’s report in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Minister stated that the report would not be shelved, stressing that the Ministry was prepared to act decisively on its recommendations to strengthen accountability, improve operational standards, and deepen ongoing reforms within the correctional sector.
Commending the panel for its diligence, professionalism, and commitment to uncovering the realities within Nigeria’s correctional facilities, Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the report as the outcome of painstaking work and extensive stakeholder consultations.
“This report will form the basis of a transformed correctional system. We will aggressively pursue implementation, establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, and ensure independent oversight to guarantee accountability and measurable results,” he said.
The Minister noted that a functional correctional system benefits not only inmates but society at large, adding that correctional facilities should be regarded as important national assets within the country’s social and economic development framework.
He emphasized that the correctional sector reflects the values of a nation and reiterated that every Nigerian, regardless of circumstance, deserves dignity, fairness, and humane treatment. According to him, the reform initiative aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ensure that all Nigerians, including those in correctional custody, benefit from government policies and reforms.
Highlighting progress already recorded in the sector, Dr. Tunji-Ojo disclosed that Nigeria’s custodial facilities currently have a capacity of approximately 68,496 inmates, while the inmate population stands at about 80,732. To address overcrowding, he said the government is constructing new correctional facilities that will provide an additional capacity of about 33,000 inmates, including major projects in Abuja and Kano.
The Minister also reported significant gains in rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in reducing recidivism. According to available data, the number of repeat offenders declined from 11,616 in 2023 to 3,156 in 2024 and further to 1,392 in 2025.
He further disclosed that 62 postgraduate students and 261 undergraduate students are currently pursuing academic programmes while in custody, while more than 1,125 inmates are enrolled in various educational initiatives. He added that 18 National Open University study centres are currently operating within correctional facilities nationwide.
Beyond formal education, thousands of inmates are participating in vocational and skills acquisition programmes, including carpentry, agriculture, electrical installation, welding, tailoring, barbering, soap production, hairdressing, and laundry services, among other trades aimed at facilitating successful reintegration into society.
On non-custodial measures, the Minister revealed that 1,227 individuals have benefited from alternatives to incarceration, including community service, probation, restorative justice, and other non-custodial interventions.
He stressed that correctional centres must evolve into institutions focused on rehabilitation, restoration, and second chances rather than places associated with hopelessness and discrimination.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Investigative Panel, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, formally presented the report and expressed appreciation to the Minister for his support throughout the assignment. She noted that members of the panel carefully examined the issues before them and engaged relevant stakeholders extensively during the course of their work.
Dr. Ajani expressed confidence that the report would be effectively implemented and would contribute significantly to ongoing reforms within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the panel, Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, called for the report to be made public, arguing that wider access to its findings would enhance transparency and strengthen public confidence in the reform process.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, welcomed the report and pledged the full cooperation of the Service in implementing its recommendations. He commended the Minister for his leadership and commitment to correctional reforms and described the panel’s work as one of the most extensive engagements and facility assessments undertaken in recent years.
Nwakuche further assured that the Service would collaborate closely with the Judiciary, the Police, and other criminal justice stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the recommendations and strengthen the effectiveness of the nation’s correctional system.
The presentation of the report marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the Nigerian Correctional Service as a modern institution driven by rehabilitation, reintegration, accountability, and public safety.
