The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reported a rise in the number of prisoners on death row. The number increased from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025, adding 98 more inmates.

Speaking to the Senate Committee on Interior, the acting controller-general of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, explained that one of the main reasons for the increase is that state governors are not making decisions about death row inmates. They neither approve executions nor change their sentences to life imprisonment.

He pointed out that if death sentences were changed to life imprisonment, the NCoS could transfer these inmates to less crowded prisons in rural areas. Urban correctional centers are more congested, making the situation worse.

Another major issue Nwakuche raised is the long waiting period for trials. Some inmates have been in prison for five to six years without trial. He emphasized the need for better collaboration between the NCoS and security agencies like the police, EFCC, DSS, and others to speed up legal processes.

He noted that some inmates have been in prison longer than their actual sentence would be if convicted. He called for action to either process their cases quickly or release them if they have overstayed unnecessarily.

To address these challenges, Nwakuche has been meeting with key officials, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of DSS, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. He urged them to work together to prevent unnecessary delays and reduce congestion in prisons.

The Senate Committee on Interior, led by Adams Oshiomhole, has promised to review Nwakuche’s report and take necessary action to improve the situation.