The Federal Government on Wednesday announced a significant reduction in recidivism within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), saying the rate dropped from 11,616 in 2023 to 1,382 in 2025.
Recidivism is the relapse into criminal behavior, typically measured by a former offender’s rearrest, reconviction, or return to prison within a specific timeframe (often three to five years) after an initial release or sentencing.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during the presentation of an investigative report on the nation’s correctional system, attributing the decline to ongoing rehabilitation and reformation programmes under the current administration.
According to him, the downward trend reflects improving outcomes in the country’s penal reforms.
“Recidivism was 11,616 when we came in in 2023, but in 2025 it came down to 1,382. It means our reformation programmes are bearing fruit,” the minister said.
He added that 15,632 inmates were admitted into correctional facilities in May 2026, while 14,190 were released under various legal provisions within the same period.
Data presented at the event showed a steady year-on-year decline in recidivism, from 11,616 in 2023 to 3,156 in 2024, and further down to 1,382 in 2025.
However, the minister stressed that the government would not consider the system fully successful until the figure is reduced to zero.
“For us, not until recidivism gets to zero, we cannot say we have succeeded,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo also pledged full implementation of the investigative panel’s recommendations, noting that a monitoring and evaluation framework would be established to drive reforms across custodial centres nationwide.
He further disclosed plans to relocate some correctional facilities, citing urban expansion and safety concerns.
Facilities in Suleja, Ikoyi, Enugu, Abakaliki, Ibadan and Lagos were mentioned as locations under consideration for relocation or restructuring due to their proximity to residential and commercial areas.
The minister also called for stronger collaboration with state governments, noting that about 90 per cent of inmates are state offenders, while 67 per cent are awaiting trial.
He urged state Attorneys-General to make greater use of non-custodial sentencing options to reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities, stressing that existing provisions under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act remain underutilised.
On welfare, Tunji-Ojo confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a 50 per cent increase in inmate feeding allowances, which has already taken effect.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said the investigative committee visited 86 custodial centres across 23 states during its assignment, while the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, noted that the exercise reinforced the need to uphold inmate dignity and strengthen accountability within the system.
The report follows earlier concerns raised by the ministry over human rights violations and operational gaps within correctional centres, which led to the nationwide review.
