The Special Investigative Panel on Abuse and Corruption in Nigeria Correctional Centres have submitted it reports in three volumes to the Federal Government after visiting 83 custodial centres in 23 States within 20 months.

The Panel’s Report was submitted on Wednesday to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo by members of the Panel headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani.

Dr Ajani said the Panel which comprises of members drawn from the Public and private sectors received the cooperation of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, and in the course of its assignment made corrections where necessary on issues relating to the conditions of inmates and custodial centres.

According to Dr Ajani, the Panel report was put together after the Stakeholders Engagement in March, and commended the Minister for providing the Panel free-hand to carry out its assignment.

Speaking while receiving the report, the Minister praised the Panel for doing a thorough investigation, noting that the on-going reforms are already yielding positive reports as only 15,632 inmates were admitted into Correctional facilities across the country in May 2026, while a total of 14,000 were released under different circumstances during same period.

Dr Tunji-Ojo who highlighted the need for the decongestion of Correctional facilities across Nigeria said as of today, a total of 80,533 inmates are in custodial facilities against 68,486 inmate capacity.

He said the government is currently working to ensure the completion of Abuja, Kano and Portharcourt new custodial centres which are expected to create additional rooms for 15,000 inmates.

Tunji-Ojo said following the rigorous implementation of the on going reforms in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, 62 inmates are currently undertaking their Post Graduate studies, while a total of 1,125 are under graduate students with the Correctional Service now having 18 Study Centres across Nigeria.

He added that over 5,000 inmates are under-going various skills acquisition and capacity building programmes in Capentry, hair dressing, electrical installation, amongst others, emphasising that the idea is to ensure their seamless integration into the society on completion of their prison terms.

Tunji-Ojo warned personnel of NCoS who would want to render the work of the Panel fruitless by engaging in unethical activities to desist, promising that the Panel’s recommendations would be implemented to the letter while those who breach the recommendations would have themselves to blame.

He said: “this report will not end up in the shelf like others. I will read it and ensure that the recommendations are implemented. The government will come up with implementation and execution strategy.

“We will need members of the Panel to ensure its seamless implementation. No Nigerian will be left behind in its implementation. There will be monitoring and evaluation team on the implementation. Our Correctional facilities must be a place of hope, and centres for development of human assets. It must not be a place where our talents go to die or perish.

“The ugly incidents of abuse, dehumanisation of inmates, corruption and selective treatments for poor and rich inmates must stop. Our Correctional facilities are not for condemnation, they are for reformation, rehabilitation, and must be so in words and deeds,” the Minister said.

In his remarks, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche said the Report signifies the right time to make on-going reforms work effectively and efficiently.

He commended the Minister and the present administration of President Bola Tinubu for taking the welfare of inmates and Correctional personnel seriously, assuring that the Service would cooperate with the government for the successful implementation of the Panel report.

He also called for support from the Police, the Judiciary and the public to make the work of the Service easy, and praised the Panel members for visiting 83 Correctional facilities in 23 states of the Federation. (The Nation)

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