Death Row Crisis: 3,688 Inmates Await Execution as Governors Stall

By Achimi Muktar

Nigeria’s death row population has surged to 3,688 inmates, exacerbating the country’s worsening prison congestion crisis, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Acting Comptroller-General of the NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, revealed this alarming statistic during his Senate screening on Wednesday, blaming the inaction of state governors for the growing backlog of condemned inmates.

Death Row Numbers Soar Amid Delays

Nwakuche, recently nominated as substantive Comptroller-General by President Bola Tinubu, noted that the number of inmates sentenced to death has increased from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025.

Despite persistent calls from Amnesty International and human rights groups for Nigeria to abolish the death penalty, the country still upholds capital punishment. However, state governors, who hold the final authority to approve executions, have refused to act—neither signing execution orders nor commuting sentences to life imprisonment.

Governors’ Inaction Fuels Overcrowding

“The refusal of state governors to execute or commute the sentences of death row inmates is a major reason for congestion in our correctional facilities,” Nwakuche stated.

He argued that if death sentences were converted to life imprisonment, the NCoS could redistribute these inmates to rural prisons, easing the overcrowding in urban correctional facilities.

“Our prisons in major cities are packed beyond capacity, while rural correctional centers remain underutilized,” he added.

A Justice System in Crisis

Beyond death row, Nwakuche highlighted another major issue—thousands of inmates languishing in prison for years without trial. Some, he claimed, have been detained longer than the maximum sentences they would have served if convicted.

“When I met with the Inspector-General of Police, I told him that some of his inmates have been in our facilities for five to six years without trial. Many of them shouldn’t even be in prison anymore,” Nwakuche said.

Seeking Urgent Collaboration

To tackle the crisis, Nwakuche has begun discussions with key security and legal agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

He stressed that unless these institutions work together, prison congestion will remain a national embarrassment.

“We must push for reforms. Some inmates are just waiting for advice from the Director of Public Prosecution. If we don’t act fast, people will continue to rot in prison unnecessarily,” he warned.

Will the Senate Act?

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, assured that the Senate will evaluate Nwakuche’s performance and push for solutions.

With Nigeria’s correctional facilities stretched beyond their limits, the question remains: Will the government take decisive action, or will thousands continue to waste away behind bars?