Nigeria

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CountryNigeria
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Prison administration
Nigerian Correctional Service
Contact address
National Headquarters, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja, Nigeria
Telephone
+234 9 234 1709
Fax
+234 9 234 4634
Website
http://www.corrections.gov.ng/
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ibrahim Idris
Controller General of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
82 382
at 25.11.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
36
based on an estimated national population of 230.06 million at end of November 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
66.8%
(25.11.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.2%
(25.11.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.7%
(30.6.2014 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(30.6.2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
240
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
50 153
(26.7.2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
136.7%
(26.7.2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 44,450 36
2002 40,048 31
2004 38,999 29
2006 40,953 29
2008 41,143 27
2010 46,586 29
2012 51,560 31
2014 56,785 32
2016 63,142 34
2018 73,631 38
2020 62,388 30
2022 75,639 35
2000 44,450 36
2002 40,048 31
2004 38,999 29
2006 40,953 29
2008 41,143 27
2010 46,586 29
2012 51,560 31
2014 56,785 32
2016 63,142 34
2018 73,631 38
2020 62,388 30
2022 75,639 35

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                 NIGERIA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

27,959
28,363
35,000
39,694
48,606

62.9%
74.0%
72.9%
69.3%
73.8%

22
20
22
22
23

2024

55,068

66.8%

24

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                   NIGERIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2016
2020

709
722
897
1,043
1,512

1.9%
1.9%
1.9%
1.7%
2.0%

0.6
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.7

2024

1,812

2.2%

0.8

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate