3,833 Inmates on death row across Nigeria’s correctional facilities – NCoS

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that a total of 3,833 inmates are currently on death row across custodial centres nationwide, out of a total inmate population of 81,558.

This disclosure was made by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Controller Abubakar Umar, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Umar dismissed recent media reports that claimed Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos had the highest number of death row inmates. According to the NCoS’s accurate data, Ogun, Rivers, Enugu, Lagos, and Delta states top the list of states with the highest number of inmates sentenced to death.

He stated that Ogun State leads with 568 inmates on death row, followed by Rivers (504), Enugu (328), Lagos (314), and Delta (256). On the lower end, Osun State currently has no death row inmate, while Ebonyi and Oyo have two each, Kogi three, and Anambra four.

The disparities across states, he noted, may be influenced by different crime rates, judicial processes, and whether state governors sign death warrants or grant clemency.

Umar explained that managing death row inmates poses serious challenges for the Service, especially concerning overcrowding and financial strain on the federal government. He further explained that inmates are classified according to legal status—awaiting trial, short-term, long-term, lifers, death row, debtors, female, or juvenile.

“As of Tuesday, July 22, 2025, inmates on death row totalled 3,833, making up about five percent of the prison population. Of these, 3,754 are male, and 79 are female,” he said.

He added that the country currently has 24,252 convicted inmates (29% of the population), comprising 23,725 males and 457 females. Meanwhile, the number of awaiting trial inmates stands at 53,473—approximately 66% of the total—made up of 52,066 males and 1,407 females.

When asked about the number of executioners in the system, Umar declined to comment, noting that many states have prerogative of mercy committees that periodically review death penalty cases.

He pointed out that several inmates on death row have benefited from such interventions and are positively contributing to society. He also emphasized that the NCoS engages these inmates through education and vocational training, ensuring they are not left idle or hopeless due to their status.