Nigeria’s prison system is buckling under the weight of a staggering number of pre-trial detainees, according to the Director General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar.
A troubling 73%, or roughly 66,000 people, out of a total population of 70,000 inmates are awaiting trial in correctional facilities across the country. This revelation, made by Abubakar during a conference on reforming pre-trial detention, paints a grim picture of overcrowding and potential injustice.
Abubakar attributed the crisis to a combination of factors. Limited capacity in correctional centers, originally designed to hold far fewer inmates, is significantly strained. Furthermore, the remand system, which allows detainment for minor offenses, adds to the backlog. Facilities designed for a specific number are forced to house double their intended capacity, creating dire conditions.
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