Abuja: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says no fewer than 64,000 inmates received non-custodial sentences between 2021 and 2025. The Controller of Corrections in charge of Probation, Ponyaka Nandang, disclosed this during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations against the correctional service.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, these non-custodial sentences include community service, suspended sentences, fines, probation, and restitution orders. These measures aim to rehabilitate offenders and reduce prison overcrowding by providing punishments that do not involve incarceration.
Nandang revealed that between 2021 and 2024, a total of 54,523 inmates, comprised of 49,463 men and 5,060 women, were placed under non-custodial measures nationwide. Another 10,406 inmates, comprising 9,207 men and 1,199 women, received similar sentences between January and June 2025.
He noted that despite the growing use of these alternatives to incarceration, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited staffing, and weak judicial collaboration persisted. He warned that without stronger institutional support, the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of these measures remained uncertain.
Nandang highlighted the lack of infrastructure and basic logistics needed to support operations in many areas. He pointed out that sometimes local government officials had to be approached for office space, which often lacked basic facilities.
The human resource deficit was also a concern, with only 1,563 officers managing non-custodial services across the country. Kebbi had the highest number of staff at 131, while Imo had the fewest, with only seven officers.
The NCoS Controller cited weak judicial participation in the implementation of non-custodial measures, particularly in probation and parole. He mentioned that most courts have not been granting probation orders due to either inadequate substantive laws or other legal gaps.
While several states have established parole boards, delays persist due to the absence of necessary technical committees at the national level. Nandang expressed concern that restorative justice was being hampered by rigid legal interpretations, despite its potential benefits.
He called for collaboration with traditional institutions, vigilante groups, and non-state actors, who had already been instrumental in bridging implementation gaps in some areas. He also urged the judiciary and prosecuting agencies to align with the correctional service’s efforts, warning that outdated legal provisions were hindering progress.
Nandang remained hopeful that with stronger political will, legal reforms, and stakeholders’ cooperation, the non-custodial system could play a transformative role in Nigeria’s justice sector, emphasizing the need for support from every stakeholder.