Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights states that “Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status.” Unfortunately, this fundamental right is consistently violated in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Nigeria’s inmate population presently stands at 84,738—27,217 convicted inmates and 57,521 awaiting trial. This number continues to rise, further straining the already overcrowded facilities. Consequently, Nigerian prisons remain in a state of disrepair, denying inmates their fundamental rights and dignity. To address these issues, Nigeria must reform its justice system through restorative justice to significantly reduce overcrowding, facilitate timely justice, and uphold inmates’ rights to dignified living conditions.
To read more, check the full article on Sahara Reporters.
Photo by AMISOM via Iwaria.