FG, States Pardon Over 8,300 Inmates Amid Overcrowding Concerns

Gloria Adesanya 11:37 - 21 March 2026

8,300 inmates were pardoned nationwide, but 50,000 still await trial.

Nigeria has pardoned over 8,300 inmates since 2022, but more than 50,000 remain awaiting trial, raising concerns over prison congestion and justice delays.

Between January 2022 and March 2026, federal and state authorities in Nigeria granted pardons or sentence reductions to at least 8,300 inmates. This initiative reflects intensified efforts to minimise overcrowding within the nation's correctional facilities.

Findings show that the pardons, approved through recommendations by Prerogative of Mercy Committees, were implemented at various custodial centres nationwide.

According to a report by Punch Newspapers, the number of beneficiaries has fluctuated over the years, reflecting both policy shifts and one-off interventions.

In 2022, 707 inmates were granted clemency. That number surged dramatically to 4,678 in 2023, before dropping to 1,843 in 2024. In 2025, over 850 inmates benefited, while more than 240 inmates have received similar relief so far in 2026.

While the total stands at over 8,300, the actual figure may be higher due to inconsistent reporting across states.

The spike recorded in 2023 was largely driven by a nationwide exercise in November, during which more than 4,000 inmates were released or had their sentences reduced.

The intervention focused on inmates detained over unpaid fines. With financial support from the Federal Government and private sector contributors, these fines were settled, leading to mass releases across custodial centres.

Over 50,000 Await Trial as Feeding Costs Hit N14.83 bn

Despite the scale of recent pardons, overcrowding remains a major concern across Nigeria’s correctional facilities.

According to data cited by BusinessDay Nigeria, more than 50,000 inmates are currently awaiting trial, forming a significant portion of the total prison population. Many are facing serious charges, including armed robbery, murder, and culpable homicide, but remain in custody due to prolonged investigations and slow court processes.

The strain on the system is not just about space. A report by The Guardian Nigeria reveals that the Nigerian Correctional Service has earmarked N14.83 billion in its 2026 budget for inmate feeding, targeting an estimated population of over 90,000 inmates nationwide.

The allocation, calculated at a daily feeding rate per inmate, underscores the growing burden on government resources as the number of people in custody continues to rise.

Officials say the funding is necessary to meet basic welfare standards, but it also highlights a deeper issue: as inmate numbers increase — particularly those awaiting trial — the cost of maintaining the system continues to climb, even as efforts to decongest facilities persist.

Shift to Rehabilitation and Productivity

In response, the Federal Government is exploring long-term solutions beyond periodic pardons.

At a stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, represented by Permanent Secretary Magdalene Ajani, announced plans to transform correctional facilities into agricultural and production hubs through public-private partnerships.

The initiative is aimed at repositioning custodial centres as institutions focused on rehabilitation, skills acquisition, and reintegration.

Officials say the move could help reduce repeat offences while also making inmates more productive during incarceration.

“Correctional centres are no longer just places of custody; they are platforms for transformation, rehabilitation and a new lease of life,” the minister said.

The rising number of pardons signals ongoing efforts to decongest Nigeria’s correctional facilities. However, the persistence of a large awaiting-trial population underscores deeper structural challenges within the criminal justice system.

Until those systemic issues, particularly delays in trials and investigations, are addressed, experts say the cycle of congestion may continue, regardless of periodic clemency measures.