Prison reforms driving sharp drop in repeat offenders, FG reports

The Federal Government has attributed a dramatic reduction in the number of repeat offenders within Nigeria’s correctional system to ongoing reforms focused on rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of inmates.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving an investigative report on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), saying recent figures suggest that efforts to transform the nation’s custodial facilities are beginning to produce measurable results.

According to the minister, the number of ex-inmates returning to correctional facilities after release has fallen significantly over the past three years.

“Recidivism was 11,616 in 2023 when we came in, dropped to 3,156 in 2024 and came down to 1,382 recidivists in 2025.

“It means that our reformation programmes are bearing fruit. The point is that we are no longer where we were.

We are making progress,” the minister said.

Despite the improvement, Tunji-Ojo stressed that the government would not consider the mission accomplished until the number of repeat offenders is completely eliminated.

“For us, not until recidivism gets to zero can we say we have succeeded,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister also revealed that correctional facilities across the country recorded substantial inmate movement in May 2026, with thousands entering and leaving custody within the month.

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“Let me add that 15,632 inmates were admitted into custody in May 2026 alone, while 14,190 were released under various terms of imprisonment during the same period,” he said.

He maintained that the findings and recommendations contained in the newly submitted investigative report would not be ignored, assuring stakeholders that government was committed to translating the report into concrete action.

“This report will not gather dust on the shelves. We are going to be very aggressive in terms of implementation,” he said, adding that a monitoring and evaluation committee would be set up.

Tunji-Ojo further highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and state authorities to address challenges posed by the location of many correctional facilities, noting that rapid urbanisation had rendered several of them unsuitable for their original purpose.

According to him, some custodial centres that were once situated on the outskirts of towns have now become surrounded by dense urban development, necessitating discussions on possible relocation and modernisation.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, disclosed that the investigative panel undertook an extensive nationwide assessment as part of its assignment.

She said the committee visited 86 custodial centres spread across 23 states of the federation, gathering firsthand information on operational conditions, infrastructure and challenges facing the correctional system.

The latest figures are expected to strengthen the government’s argument that investment in inmate rehabilitation, vocational training and behavioural reformation programmes can play a significant role in reducing crime and improving public safety, while helping former inmates successfully reintegrate into society.

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