Nigeria’s House Reps Demand Rapid Infrastructure Reform in Correctional Facilities

Members of the House of Representatives' Committee on Reformatory Institutions have called for an immediate and substantial upgrade of Nigeria’s correctional infrastructure. This appeal came during a formal visit to the Interior Minister, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo, in Abuja, where the committee assessed current rehabilitation efforts and compared them to global standards.

Hon. Chinedu Ogah, committee chairman, commended the ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting visible improvements in facility conditions and inmate welfare. He emphasised that the committee’s engagement was meant to serve both oversight and endorsement for leadership deeply committed to reform.

Nigeria’s correctional system has long faced serious shortcomings, a legacy of outdated infrastructure, rampant overcrowding, and poor nutrition. Over 80% of inmates are awaiting trial, contributing to congestion and increasing health risks in facilities ill-equipped for rehabilitation.

The 2019 Nigerian Correctional Service Act and the 2023 constitutional amendment reclassified correctional services as a concurrent matter, empowering states to establish and manage their facilities. Stakeholders, including PRAWA and the Ministries of Justice and Interior, have urged states to leverage these reforms to build modern centres geared toward rehabilitation.

Reports indicate that over 81,000 individuals are detained nationwide, with more than 50,000 held in pretrial detention—highlighting the urgent need to deploy non-custodial measures and accelerate the justice process.

Minister Tunji‑Ojo has expressed a commitment to transform the Nigerian Correctional Service into an institution focused on reform, not just confinement. He has underscored the inadequacies of simply renaming prisons and pledged continued efforts to eliminate corruption and promote dignified treatment for inmates. His ministry has also announced plans to recruit more medical staff and improve healthcare conditions within centres.

Earlier in May 2024, during an inspection following a jailbreak at Suleja prison, Ogah told officials that state governments must construct contemporary correctional centres, noting that many existing facilities date back over a century and are no longer fit for purpose.