Nigeria’s prison system is failing in both its legal mandate and its social responsibility. While inmates may leave correctional facilities, many continue to face punishment long after release, excluded by employers, neglected by institutions and rejected by their communities. This “second sentence” undermines their dignity and increases the risk of reoffending.
As of June 2025, more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s 80,879 inmates are still awaiting trial. No national system tracks how many reoffend after release. In the absence of reliable data, policymakers are operating in the dark. Nigeria has ratified international frameworks like the Mandela Rules and enacted the Correctional Service Act to support rehabilitation. Yet, most facilities remain overcrowded, underfunded and lack any structured education, skill training or post-release support.
This paper outlines the systemic barriers that ex-inmate face, highlights local and regional models that have demonstrated impact and proposes a national reintegration agenda focused on data, dignity and delivery. Nigeria’s justice system is not simply underperforming; it is functioning in a way that structurally excludes, recycles and fails to prepare individuals for life after incarceration.
Sulaiman Aremu says: 
There is a need for a well developed data base to monitoring releases of inmates. A pepper case study on hour international correctional centers are run