The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that 93 percent of inmates in Nigeria’s correctional centres are offenders prosecuted under state laws, adding that nearly half of them may not require custodial sentences.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the minister made the remarks while speaking on the need for comprehensive criminal justice reforms aimed at addressing prison congestion and improving the country’s correctional system.
According to Tunji-Ojo, many inmates are being held for minor offences that could be addressed through non-custodial measures such as community service, fines, probation, or restorative justice. He stressed that adopting alternative sentencing would reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities while promoting rehabilitation and reintegration.
The minister called on state governments, the judiciary, and other stakeholders to collaborate in strengthening the administration of criminal justice. He noted that decongesting correctional centres requires coordinated reforms at both the federal and state levels.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has continued to advocate reforms that enhance efficiency in the justice system while ensuring that correctional facilities focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
All rights reserved ©2026 CDA News Nigeria.
Contact: info@cdanews.ng | www.cdanews.ng | +2348030980314 | 348 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
