A total of 1,317 inmates have been pardoned by both the federal and state governments between January 2022 and December 2023, News About Nigeria reports.
In a report compiled by Saturday Punch, there was a noticeable rise in the number of prisoners housed in different federal detention facilities nationwide during that time.
Between December 2022 and December 2023, the number of inmates rose by 2,937, reaching a total of 78,446.
As of December 2022, the custodial centers housed 75,509 inmates, but this figure surged to 78,446 by December 2023.
The Nigerian Correctional Service’s website provides the latest summary of the inmate population, revealing that out of the total, 54,141 are awaiting trial.
This group consists of 52,800 males and 1,341 females.
According to Saturday Punch’s investigations, state governors pardoned at least 707 prisoners in 2022 and over 610 prisoners in 2023, either on the basis of recommendations or following discussions with the state Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.
One notable event was on October 1, 2023, when the governments of Adamawa, Plateau, and Nasarawa states pardoned 24 prison inmates as part of activities commemorating the 63rd independence anniversary.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Capital Territory Command spokesperson, Adamu Duza, underlined the importance of non-custodial measures, emphasising that they are an alternative to incarceration and that they help decongest custodial centres, save the government money, offer free community services, and generate revenue.
“The non-custodial measure is a major game changer in the business of corrections, as it not only an alternative to imprisonment but a means of decongesting our custodial centres, saving cost for the government, providing free service to the community and also a revenue generator,” Duza said.
