FG Reaffirms Commitment to Implementing Investigative Panel Report on Nigerian Correctional Centres.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, assured stakeholders that the report of the Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) would not be shelved but would serve as the foundation for a renewed Nigerian Correctional Service.
The Minister stated this while receiving the Investigative Panel’s Report on Nigerian Correctional Centres in Abuja on Wednesday, noting that the Ministry would act decisively on its recommendations.
Receiving the report, the Honourable Minister commended the panel for its diligence, professionalism, and commitment to uncovering the realities within Nigeria’s correctional facilities. He described the report as a product of painstaking work and wide 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,” the Minister stated.
He noted that the work of the panel represented an important step in the ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability, improve operational standards and consolidate reforms within the correctional system.
Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, noted that a well-functioning correctional system benefits not only inmates but society as a whole, adding that correctional facilities should be treated as valuable national assets in the country’s social and economic development architecture.
The Minister reiterated that the correctional sector reflects the values of a nation and emphasized that every Nigerian, regardless of circumstance, deserves dignity, fairness, and humane treatment. He stated that the 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 within the sector, the Minister 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, the government is constructing new correctional facilities with an additional capacity of approximately 33,000 inmates, including major projects in Abuja and Kano.
The Minister also reported significant improvements in rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in the reduction of recidivism. According to available data, repeat offenders declined from 11,616 in 2023 to 3,156 in 2024 and further to 1,392 in 2025.
He further highlighted ongoing investments in inmate education and rehabilitation programmes, including:
• 62 postgraduate students currently in custody.
• 261 undergraduate students.
• More than 1,125 inmates participating in educational programmes.
• 18 National Open University study centres operating within correctional facilities.
Thousands of inmates are also enrolled in vocational and skills acquisition programmes covering carpentry, agriculture, electrical installation, welding, tailoring, barbering, soap production, hairdressing, laundry services, and other trades designed to support successful reintegration into society.
On non-custodial measures, the Minister reported 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 become institutions of rehabilitation, restoration, and second chances rather than places of hopelessness and discrimination.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Investigative Panel, Dr. Magdalene Ajani formally presented the report. She expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister for his support throughout the assignment, noted that members of the panel carefully examined the issues before them and engaged relevant stakeholders in the course of their work.
Dr. Ajani expressed optimism that the report would be effectively implemented and would contribute meaningfully to ongoing reforms within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the panel, Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, appealed for the findings of the report to be made public, noting that making the document accessible to Nigerians would further strengthen transparency and public confidence in the reform process.
The Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations against the Nigerian Correctional Service was constituted to investigate allegations of misconduct within the Service and make recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency and effective service delivery.
The report was officially presented to the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during a ceremony attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, members of the Investigative Panel, senior government officials, and members of the media.
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 the recommendations. He commended the Honourable Minister for his leadership and commitment to correctional reform and praised the Investigative Panel for conducting one of the most extensive engagements and facility assessments undertaken in recent years.
He emphasized that the Nigerian Correctional Service would work closely with the Judiciary, the Police, and other criminal justice stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the report’s recommendations and to strengthen the effectiveness of the nation’s correctional system.
The presentation of the report marks a significant landmark in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to reposition the Nigerian Correctional Service as a modern institution focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, accountability, and public safety.
