FG Releases 4,000 Inmates to Decongest Prisons, Reform Justice System
The federal government has released more than 4,000 inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria as part of a sweeping effort to reform the country’s justice system.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Chinedu Ogah, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, in Abuja.
He said the number of inmates in custody has dropped significantly — from over 86,000 to about 81,450 — following a nationwide review focused on individuals held for minor offences.
“The correctional service remains a key priority. We must uphold the dignity of even the most vulnerable citizens,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He praised the National Assembly for supporting the reforms and described the collaboration between the executive and legislature as vital.
“The executive-legislative partnership is crucial to delivering sustainable change,” he added.
Ogah said the minister’s efforts align with President Bola Tinubu’s broader agenda for justice reform and national development.
Similar interventions are underway at the state level. In May, Halima Mohammed, chief judge of Gombe State, ordered the release of 85 inmates during visits to custodial centres in Gombe and Billiri.
The chief judge explained that the state’s criminal justice and inquiry committee visited four facilities “aimed at identifying inmates eligible for bail or unconditional release.”
