Death Row Population Rises as Prisons Seek Urgent Justice Reforms
Abuja — The number of inmates on death row in Nigeria has increased by 98 within the last six months, bringing the total to 3,688 as of March 2025, up from 3,590 in September 2024.
Acting Controller-General of Prisons, Sylvester Nwakuche, made this revelation while being screened by the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
He also emphasized the urgent need for collaboration with security agencies to speed up the judicial process and ease prison congestion.
Governors’ Inaction Worsening Prison Congestion
According to Nwakuche, one of the major challenges is the reluctance of state governors to either approve executions or commute death sentences to life imprisonment.
“If governors commute death sentences, we can relocate these inmates to less congested rural prisons,” he explained. “Right now, most urban prisons are overcrowded, while rural facilities have more space.”
Awaiting Trial Cases a Major Concern
Another major issue affecting the correctional system is the overwhelming number of inmates awaiting trial.
“A large percentage of prisoners are yet to be convicted, and this delays justice,” Nwakuche said. “We are working closely with the police, DSS, EFCC, and ICPC to speed up legal proceedings and decongest prisons.”
With the rising number of inmates and ongoing judicial delays, prison officials are calling for urgent reforms to ensure a more efficient correctional system in Nigeria.
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