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Nigeria’s prison population has risen over the past eight years, reaching 81,710 inmates in the second quarter of 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics has reported. This marks a 16.8 percent increase from 69,946 prisoners recorded in 2017.
The statistics, released in the Nigerian Correctional Service Statistics 2017 to Q2 2025, provide detailed data on inmate numbers, correctional facility capacities, unsentenced prisoners, and admissions across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Lagos State recorded the highest number of inmates, housing 9,209 prisoners in facilities designed for 4,167. Other states with high populations included Ogun with 4,939 inmates, Kano with 4,667, and Enugu with 3,536. Kogi, Bayelsa, and Benue reported the lowest numbers, holding 530, 696, and 777 inmates respectively.
Despite expansions, many facilities remain overcrowded. The total capacity of correctional centres across Nigeria increased from 53,752 in 2017 to 65,035 in the second quarter of 2025. Even with this growth, facilities in Lagos and other densely populated states operate at more than double their intended capacity.
Unsentenced inmates, or those awaiting trial, also make up a substantial portion of the prison population. In 2017, there were 47,610 unsentenced prisoners, and by 2025, the number had risen to 53,790, an increase of nearly 13 percent.
Admissions data for 2024 show that a total of 176,536 individuals were admitted into Nigerian correctional centres. Most of these were remand cases, with 94,614 prisoners awaiting trial. Condemned prisoners, those serving final sentences, numbered 2,883.
Breaking down admissions by offence shows that theft accounted for the highest number of entries, with 55,722 cases. Other offences were recorded at 46,043, while armed robbery accounted for 10,090 admissions. Economic offences were fewer, with bribery and corruption recorded in 27 cases, cybercrime in 48, and smuggling in 118 cases.
The data reveals differences across states. Lagos remains the most overcrowded, while Kogi, Bayelsa, and Benue have prisons operating below capacity. The figures also show that minor and property-related offences constitute the majority of admissions, while offences such as economic crimes and cybercrime are relatively low.
The report provides a detailed picture of Nigeria’s correctional system. It documents trends in prison population, facility capacity, unsentenced inmates, and admissions without interpretation or commentary. The statistics highlight the continued reliance on pretrial detention and the uneven distribution of inmates across states and offence types.
The NBS report serves as the most recent official record of correctional service trends in Nigeria, showing steady increases in inmate numbers and admissions over the past eight years. It offers a factual basis for understanding the pressures on Nigerian prisons and the state of the country’s correctional facilities.
