SEVEN OUT OF EVERY 10 PEOPLE IN NIGERIAN PRISONS ARE “AWAITING TRIAL

OIP 23

According to the World Prison Brief, pre-trial detainees consistently make up the vast majority of Nigeria’s prison population, peaking at 74.0% in 2005 and still standing at 65.7% as of September 2025.

If you have experience working in the Nigerian legal or correctional system, or if you or someone you know has faced a long delay in the pre-trial process, we want to hear from you in the comments.

What is the primary factor driving this persistent crisis of “awaiting trial” inmates, and what change has been most effective in finally getting cases heard?

Pre-trial detention as a share of Nigeria’s prison population (2000-2025)

2000: 62.9%
2005: 74.0% ⬆
2010: 72.9% ⬇
2015: 69.3% ⬇
2020: 73.8% ⬆
*2025: 65.7% ⬇

*As of 1 September, 2025

About Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

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