Over 64,000 individuals in Nigerian prisons have been placed under non-custodial sentences since 2021, according to data released by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), signaling a shift toward alternatives to incarceration. Controller Ponyaka Nandang, head of probation services, revealed the figures during a public hearing in Abuja, highlighting efforts to address overcrowding and promote rehabilitation through community service, fines, and probation programs. However, systemic challenges threaten the sustainability of these reforms.
Between 2021 and June 2025, a total of 64,929 inmates—58,670 men and 6,259 women—received non-custodial measures designed to reduce reliance on imprisonment. The majority (54,523) were processed between 2021 and 2024, with an additional 10,406 cases recorded in the first half of 2025. While these measures align with the NCoS Act of 2019, which prioritizes restorative justice, Controller Nandang warned that inadequate funding, staffing shortages, and weak judicial collaboration have hampered progress.
“Budgetary allocations for restorative justice are nonexistent,” Nandang told investigators, emphasizing that infrastructure gaps force staff to operate without basic facilities. Only 1,563 officers manage non-custodial services nationwide, with Imo State—home to over 5 million people—relying on just seven staff members. Courts’ reluctance to issue probation orders, coupled with delayed parole processes due to incomplete technical committees, further complicates implementation. In some cases, authorities have turned to vigilante groups to enforce sentences—a stopgap measure underscoring systemic vulnerabilities.
Nandang called for urgent legal reforms to align judicial practices with modern correctional goals, noting that rigid interpretations of laws stifle innovation. He proposed partnerships with traditional leaders and civil society to expand outreach, stressing that even death row inmates could benefit from restorative programs focused on repairing community ties. Despite obstacles, he expressed cautious optimism: “With political will and stakeholder cooperation, these measures could transform Nigeria’s justice system.”
The push for alternatives to incarceration reflects a global trend toward decongesting prisons and prioritizing rehabilitation. Yet, as Nigeria’s experience shows, success hinges on addressing deep-rooted institutional and legal barriers.
