Nigeria’s correctional facilities are facing an unprecedented crisis as the population of death row inmates continues to swell. According to Assistant Comptroller General Cyrus Lekatile, a staggering 3,845 prisoners, including 81 women, are currently awaiting execution across the country.
Lekatile, speaking at a public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment by the Nigerian Correctional Service, warned that the rising number of condemned inmates is worsening overcrowding in prisons and straining already limited resources. He noted that the situation undermines rehabilitation efforts and exacerbates the psychological toll on inmates.
He further highlighted the plight of many death row prisoners who remain trapped in uncertainty due to prolonged appeal processes and delays in granting clemency. The execution process itself has stalled, with political leaders often reluctant to sign death warrants, creating an unofficial moratorium that leaves inmates languishing for years.
Lekatile urged urgent reforms to address the crisis, including a comprehensive review of capital punishment laws and increased funding for correctional facilities. He stressed that without swift action, the growing backlog of death row cases will continue to cripple Nigeria’s prison system.
