The administration of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has authorised the release of 43 inmates from correctional centres across Lagos, as part of its efforts to ease overcrowding and advance criminal justice reforms.
The decision was announced by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, who said the exercise followed a similar initiative in December 2025 that saw 91 inmates granted freedom.
According to the state government, the latest release was executed under the governor’s constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy, in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
It was said that the beneficiaries were selected based on recommendations from the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, following established legal and administrative procedures.
The Lagos State Government added that the move reflected its commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, while addressing persistent congestion in custodial facilities.
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Overcrowding, authorities explained, has continued to strain infrastructure and slow judicial processes, particularly the movement of inmates to and from court sessions.
To mitigate these challenges, the state last year procured two coaster buses for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), aimed at improving inmate transportation and reducing trial delays linked to logistics constraints.
Beyond inmate releases, the government said it is renovating and upgrading facilities within correctional centres across the state to improve custodial conditions and meet acceptable standards.
Lagos has also renewed calls for structural reforms, urging the Federal Government to consider transferring control of at least one correctional facility in the state to enable better oversight of centres housing predominantly state offenders.
The government maintained that such a move would help address underfunding, weak supervision, lack of transparency and chronic overcrowding, while supporting a justice system that safeguards public safety, respects victims’ rights and promotes rehabilitation and reintegration.