Nigeria Orders Urgent Evacuation Of Abeokuta Prison Over Deplorable Conditions.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the immediate evacuation of inmates from the Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Ogun State, citing “horrible” sanitary conditions unfit for human habitation. The directive, issued by Dr Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, comes as part of an ongoing investigation into systemic failures within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The order, announced on Monday, 11 August 2025, during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations in Abuja, gives the NCoS four weeks to relocate all inmates from the facility.
Dr Ajani, who chairs the investigative panel, described the state of the Abeokuta prison as shocking, stating, “We can’t put up the pictures of what we saw there—horrible. It’s an urgent thing that needs to be done.” The facility, designed to hold 700 inmates, is currently housing 1,468, more than double its intended capacity. Reports from former inmates paint a grim picture, with one describing the conditions as “like packed sardines,” leading to widespread health issues including skin rashes, head lice, and mental disorders. The overcrowding, coupled with poor sanitation and limited access to medical care, has been blamed for fostering disease outbreaks and deteriorating inmate welfare.
The panel’s findings also highlighted broader issues within Nigeria’s correctional system, including the illegal detention of minors alongside adults and administrative lapses. Dr Ajani ordered the NCoS to submit a comprehensive report on all juvenile custodial centres within two weeks, expressing concern over the mixing of underage inmates with adults. She also flagged irregularities at the Ilorin custodial facility, where adults aged 30 to 43 were found in a supposed borstal or halfway home, calling for their immediate removal.
Efforts to address overcrowding in Ogun State’s correctional centres have been ongoing, with the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, recently overseeing the release of 67 inmates from facilities in Sagamu, Oba, and Ibara in May 2025. These releases, part of periodic jail delivery exercises, were granted on health and compassionate grounds, particularly for inmates detained for years without trial. Despite these efforts, the Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, noted that overcrowding remains a persistent challenge, exacerbated by logistical constraints such as a lack of operational vehicles.
The evacuation order follows heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s correctional facilities, spurred by allegations of misconduct, including the preferential treatment of high-profile inmates. In September 2024, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo suspended several officers at the Kirikiri Custodial Centres in Lagos over such claims, prompting the formation of the investigative panel. The panel’s secretary, Uju Agomoh, emphasised its mandate to address corruption, torture, and inhumane treatment, aiming to reform the NCoS into a system that prioritises rehabilitation and reintegration.
Local voices have echoed the call for urgent reform. Ayomide Olagoke, an inmate at Ibara Custodial Centre and a master’s degree holder, urged the government to address congestion and grant amnesty to reformed inmates, stating, “We are now change agents the world is waiting to see.” Legal experts have also criticised the lack of adherence to the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, which mandates action to address overcrowding within three months of a facility exceeding capacity—a provision often ignored in practice.
The evacuation of Abeokuta’s prison marks a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s correctional crisis. As the government works to relocate inmates and improve conditions, advocates hope this move will spur broader reforms to ensure humane treatment and rehabilitation for those in custody. The nation awaits the NCoS’s next steps, with expectations high for a correctional system that aligns with its stated goals of justice and humanity.
