• The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) revealed that the government spends ₦4.3 million daily to feed 3,823 death row inmates across the country.
• Each condemned inmate costs the government ₦1,125 per day in feeding expenses, despite not knowing when or if execution will occur.
• The prolonged stay of inmates on death row has significantly increased the financial burden on the correctional system.

The number of inmates awaiting execution in Nigeria has risen to 3,823, with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirming that 3,742 are male and 81 are female as of June 2025. This marks a sharp increase from 3,688 recorded in March and 3,590 in September 2024. However, executions remain stalled, largely due to state governors’ consistent refusal to sign death warrants.

Despite holding the constitutional power to authorize or commute death sentences, many governors have opted for inaction. This situation has left inmates languishing in overcrowded prisons, burdening the correctional system and raising ethical concerns about indefinite detention without closure.

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The federal government spends approximately ₦4.3 million daily to feed inmates on death row. More broadly, the cost of feeding all 78,446 inmates in custody is estimated at ₦58.8 million per day, following an increase in the daily food allowance from ₦750 to ₦1,125 in August 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. Even with the adjustment, experts say the allocation remains below the ₦1,346 recommended for adequate nutrition, leaving a daily shortfall of ₦221 per inmate.

A senior officer from one correctional facility warned that inadequate nutrition could incite unrest. “This is more than a welfare concern — it’s a matter of national security,” he explained.

Documents show that the NCoS spent ₦3.3 billion feeding around 50,000 awaiting-trial inmates between January and February 2025 alone. With projections pointing to an annual cost of ₦20.6 billion for awaiting-trial inmates and a total of ₦38 billion allocated for feeding all inmates this year, experts argue that the system is approaching a breaking point.

A former prison food supplier emphasized that despite these figures, meals in correctional centres remain nutritionally insufficient. “This should be seen as a critical component of national security planning,” he added.

The spokesperson of the NCoS, Deputy Controller Umar Abubakar, maintained that the current feeding rates align with international standards. He noted that the service operates within an approved federal budget and is working on expanding agricultural initiatives in custodial facilities to reduce dependence on external food supplies and empower inmates.

Meanwhile, legal and human rights experts have offered insight into the delays in carrying out executions. Barrister Sufiyanu Gambo Idris of Bauchi attributed the delay to lengthy appeals and lack of political will from state governors. “Even after all appeals have been exhausted, most governors hesitate to endorse execution orders,” he said.

In Akwa Ibom State, for instance, no death warrants have been signed by any civilian governor since 1999. A senior official at the Department of Public Prosecution revealed that some inmates have recently been freed after years of wrongful convictions were overturned. This uncertainty further complicates the possibility of carrying out executions.

A source close to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, who also leads a church, suggested his faith influences his reluctance to authorize executions. “No governor from this state has ever signed a death warrant in the civilian era,” the source said.

Human rights advocates, including Clifford Thomas of the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, argue that the risk of executing innocent persons is too high. “Cases have emerged where people were wrongly sentenced and later exonerated,” he said.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti, recently commuted the sentences of three death row inmates, reflecting a preference for clemency over capital punishment. Though authorities declined to release the number of condemned inmates in Abia, sources confirmed that such information is highly restricted due to its sensitive nature.

In Cross River, constitutional limitations and adherence to Amnesty International’s anti-death penalty stance have stalled executions. Barrister James Ibor, Secretary of the state’s Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, pointed out that concerns about wrongful executions and the lack of executioners (hangmen) are major challenges.

Kaduna-based lawyer Hiifan Abuul explained that while judges may issue death sentences for capital crimes, execution is often delayed or substituted with life imprisonment due to various factors. This discretion is mirrored in Katsina State, where executions have been effectively halted amid legal and moral considerations. Officials noted the rising cost of maintaining long-term inmates, especially those on death row.

Jigawa State has 50 inmates awaiting execution, with 12 transferred from other regions. The attorney general, Hon. Bello Fanini, revealed that governors are sometimes advised to grant pardons based on good behaviour and time already served.

In Enugu, civil rights activist Olu Omatayo recommended releasing inmates who have spent over two decades on death row. “After such a long time, many of them have reformed and could contribute positively to society,” he said.

Across Nigeria, the consensus among many legal experts, human rights groups, and even state officials is clear: the death penalty, while still enshrined in law, is increasingly impractical and ethically contentious in a modern justice system.

Coroner Orders Prosecution of Nurse Over Mohbad’s Death

A Lagos State Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu has called for the prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who gave the injection alleged to have caused the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known professionally as Mohbad.

In her ruling on Friday, Magistrate C.A. Shotobi held that Ogedengbe lacked the legal and professional standing to administer the injection, pointing out that she was not registered as a nurse or certified as a medical practitioner. The court found her actions to be unlawful and in direct violation of medical standards.