Nigeria’s federal government is considering reducing the number of custodial centers, arguing that 256 prisons are excessive and strain supervision, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said Tuesday.
Speaking at a public hearing on alleged corruption in the prison system, Tunji-Ojo highlighted overcrowding in some facilities while others remain underutilized. He proposed redistributing federal inmates to balance capacity.
The minister also condemned inhumane treatment of prisoners, calling for psychological evaluations of correctional officers and a shift toward rehabilitation over punishment. “This is 2025, not 1825,” he said, pledging systemic reform.
