1,271 Nigerians serving non-custodial sentences nationwide – NCoS
July 1, 2026 3:48 am
A total of 1,271 offenders are currently serving various non-custodial sentences across Nigeria, according to the latest statistics released by the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The figures, obtained from the NCoS on Tuesday, showed that 1,137 of those serving non-custodial measures are males, while 134 are females.
The data indicated that community service remains the most widely used non-custodial measure, accounting for 1,038 offenders nationwide.
Of those on community service, 992 are males, while 46 are females.
The statistics further revealed that 12 offenders are currently on parole, comprising nine males and three females.
Similarly, 34 persons are serving probation sentences, including 30 males and four females.
“Non-Custodial Statistics Summary Summary Of Inmates Population By Convict And Awaiting Trial Persons As At 29th June 2026.
“Total: 1,271. Total Male: 1,137. Total Female: 134: Community Service: 1,038. Male: 992 and Female: 46
“Parole: 12, Male: nine and Female: three,” the data read.
The NCoS data also showed that 162 offenders are undergoing restorative justice programmes. The category consists of 84 males and 78 females.
In addition, 25 offenders fall under other non-custodial measures, with 22 males and three females.
Overall, the figures show that males account for about 89 per cent of the total non-custodial population, while females make up the remaining 11 per cent.
The non-custodial service, introduced under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, is designed to decongest custodial centres by providing alternative sentencing options such as community service, probation, parole and restorative justice for eligible offenders.
Nigeria formally introduced the Non-Custodial Service with the enactment of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, replacing the old Nigerian Prisons Service framework.
The reform established alternatives to imprisonment—including community service, probation, parole and restorative justice—to reduce overcrowding in custodial centres, promote offender rehabilitation and improve the administration of criminal justice.
The initiative also aligns with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Implementation began in phases, with the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos among the first jurisdictions to adopt community service and other non-custodial measures, before the programme gradually expanded to other states.
In recent years, awareness and implementation have grown in states including Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Lagos and Plateau, while the Nigerian Correctional Service has continued to encourage wider adoption by state judiciaries as part of efforts to decongest custodial centres nationwide.
Solomon Odeniyi is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over six years of professional experience. He has covered key national beats including the judiciary, military, and police, and currently reports on anti-corruption and related issues. Solomon’s work reflects a strong commitment to development-oriented reporting, public interest journalism, and accountability.
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