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In this session from the IN-CJ newsdesk we discussed how the Nigerian criminal justice services have adapted to the pandemic with the use of alternative approaches to incarceration. Contributing to this session were Professor Don John Omale (Twitter), Criminology and Restorative Justice and Victimology Expert. Dr. Uju Agomoh (Executive Director of PRAWA), Mr. Kevin Ugwuoke (Deputy Superintendent of Corrections).
This podcast examines how Nigeria’s custodial system responded to the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, particularly the urgent problem of overcrowding in prisons. With more than 68,000 people held in January 2021 – almost 70% of them awaiting trial – the pandemic exposed longstanding weaknesses in Nigeria’s correctional infrastructure and created new pressures to act.
The discussion highlighted the Nigerian Government’s measures to reduce the risks of outbreaks, including a presidential directive in July 2020 that led to the release of more than 7,800 inmates. Alongside this emergency response, the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 provided a new legal framework for embedding non-custodial measures such as probation, parole, community service, and restorative justice into the justice system.
Dr. Uju Agomol explained how the Act created directorates for non-custodial and restorative justice services, with funding and staffing structures to support implementation. Kelvin Nugoke, a correctional officer, described how courts used these provisions during the pandemic, sentencing hundreds of offenders in Plateau State to community service or probation rather than custodial terms, helping to prevent further congestion.
The conversation also explored how restorative justice practices were used both pre-trial – through police, NGOs, and faith groups – and post-release, supporting reintegration and conflict resolution.
However, participants also pointed to persistent challenges: limited public awareness, inadequate training and staffing, inconsistent laws, and underfunding. They stressed that while COVID-19 forced rapid innovation, it also created an opportunity to build longer-term reforms.
The podcast concluded that Nigeria’s pandemic response demonstrates how crises can catalyse systemic change. By embedding restorative justice and non-custodial measures, the Nigerian system has the potential to move towards a more humane, rehabilitative, and community-focused model of justice.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 023 – Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Nigerian Custodial Centres.