NCoS: Prisoners on death row increased by 98 in 6 months

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says the number of prisoners on death row increased from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025.

This represents a 2.73 per cent increase or addition of 98 prisoners within six months.

The Acting Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, gave the figure when he appeared for screening before the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

The NCoS also sought strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to speed up the wheel of justice in the country.

Nwakuche said the major challenge facing the correctional service in the country was that of inmates currently awaiting trials.

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“That is our major headache we are trying to address on a daily basis,” he said.

The acting comptroller-general pledged to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure that the issues of awaiting trial  inmates were permanently resolved to decongest the country’s prisons.

Nwakuche added: “This is very important for any establishment to forge ahead. An establishment like correctional centres cannot do anything without collaboration.

“We are the recipient of the products of all the prosecuting agencies.”

Oshiomhole said the committee would submit its report based on the performance of the NCoS boss.

The Star