No fewer than 7,228 inmates were pardoned by federal and state governments, chief justices and nongovernmental organisations between January 2022 and December 2024, as part of efforts to decongest the nation’s overcrowded correctional centres.

The figures were obtained from media reports and compiled by our correspondent on Saturday.

 According to recent data from the Nigerian Correctional Service, the total inmate population stands at 79,125 exceeding the system’s capacity of slightly more than 50,000.

 Of this number, 52,903 inmates are awaiting trial. Most of these individuals face serious charges such as armed robbery, murder, and culpable homicide, which require lengthy investigations and prosecutions. 

In 2022, 707 inmates were pardoned. The figure rose significantly in 2023 to 4,678, with another 1,843 pardoned in 2024.

A major release occurred on November 18, 2023, when 4,068 inmates were freed across the country due to their inability to pay fines.

The gesture initiated by the Federal Government was made possible through N585m raised by corporate organisations as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The NCoS spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, who recently spoke to our correspondent in an interview, attributed the overcrowding primarily to delays in the dispensation of justice.

To address these challenges, the NCoS adopted several measures, including facilitating judicial access for inmates by ensuring their timely appearance in court.

Non-custodial measures, such as community service and probation, have also been introduced to ease pressure on correctional centres.

The agency is collaborating with state governments to grant clemency to reformed inmates and has partnered with state judiciaries to conduct regular jail delivery exercises.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old US returnee, David Segun, and two others for allegedly killing an Uber driver in the Obalende area of Lagos State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the state command headquarters on Saturday.

Olanrewaju disclosed that Segun and his friends, Emeka Akwara (19) Samuel Ariori (21) and Lukman Ariori (19) ordered an Uber ride from Chevron in Lekki to Obalende at midnight on Thursday, January 9.

He said upon arriving at a lonely area in Obalende, the suspects allegedly robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck.

According to him, the suspects were unable to snatch the vehicle, and two among them were apprehended on the spot by members of the community.

He said, “On January 9, 2025, at about midnight, a case of conspiracy, armed robbery and murder was reported. One Emeka Akwara 19yrs, David Segun, 21yrs, Samuel Ariori, 21yrs and Lukman Ariori, 19yrs  ordered an Uber at Chevron in the Lekki area – en-route to Obalende. On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck, unfortunately, they were unable to snatch the vehicle.

“With the intervention of good Samaritans within the environs, two suspects were immediately arrested and were handed over to police operatives attached to Lion Building. “

The Police chief further stated that two other fleeing suspects were arrested in the Chevron area of the state, adding that the deceased’s corpse was deposited in the morgue at Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

Olanrewaju who explained that an investigation had begun into the incident described Segun as a US returnee as well as the gang’s leader.

While pointing at him, Olanrewaju said, “This is their team leader. He was sent home from America by his father. The mother at home could still not handle him. The failure of society is placed on the police. We are not complaining, it is a job we signed up for. They will be facing criminal prosecution right from Monday.

“I wonder the value of what this vehicle will fetch in the market that made them snuff the life out of the owner. Probably the man even took the vehicle on hire purchase,” he added.

Other suspects were paraded for kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, carjacking and other various acts of criminalities.

The CP also noted that the command had intelligence-led policing during the yuletide season which resulted in a peaceful celebration.

“During this period, we had intelligence-led policing that resulted in the peaceful yuletide season that we had in Lagos. It is on record that Murtala Muhammed airport received nothing less than 500,000 diasporan Nigerians and ninety percent of whom did not go outside of Lagos for celebration,” he added.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, has urged unknown gunmen still in hiding to lay down their arms and join society in contributing positively to the progress of the state.

Uzodinma made the appeal at the funeral of the slain former Imo APC Woman leader, Orlu zone, Jenny Rachael Okonkwo, who was murdered in 2022 by suspected hoodlums

He promised that the government would help in providing financial aid in any kind of business the bandits choose to go into to be useful to themselves and society.

Addressing the mourners at the country home of the late APC woman leader in Ogberuru, Orlu LGA , the Governor condemned the conditions under which the woman leader was assassinated, insisting that the Party and the State lost a gem in her.

Uzodinma prayed for the repose of her soul and the souls of the four other women assassinated with her and proceeded to approve the sum of ₦10 million for each of the deceased families.

He also promised that the government will be willing to employ any of their children who is employable or in the alternative train them if they are willing to learn a trade or skill.

He said, “She was one of the best organizers and mobilizers, not only in Orlu Local Government but in Imo State in general. A very committed party woman, who worked, suffered, served the Party and the government, and because of her commitment, political opponents assassinated her.

“When Rachael was assassinated alongside four others, the senseless political violence and gruesome killings in the area was not known. Those who are behind the political killings in Orlu zone are still at work but very soon the wrath of God will catch up with them.”

Uzodinma hinted that strangers were recruited by unscrupulous politicians to kill and assassinate their own brothers and sisters in the name of politics.

He, however, said with the help of God, Orlu people are beginning to see that those behind the killings in the LGA and other areas do not mean well for the state.

The Governor, called on all affected by the death of late Okonkwo to take heart and remain committed to the Party and the state.

Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe has raised concerns about the rising issue of prostitution among former Boko Haram captives.

He made the remarks during a courtesy visit by Hamsatu Allamin, the CEO of the Allamin Foundation for Peace, on Friday in Maiduguri. Wakilbe highlighted that some of the freed victims were exposed to sexual exploitation due to their vulnerability during captivity by the terrorists.

The commissioner noted that prostitution is especially prevalent in the local government areas of Bama, Banki, and Gwoza. He shared a distressing encounter with an 11-year-old girl, surrounded by three other children, which he described as heartbreaking. He also mentioned that Cameroonian authorities had recently repatriated young girls, aged 13 to 15, who had multiple children.

Wakilbe emphasized the urgent need for reintegration and support for these vulnerable individuals, pointing out that the widespread sexual abuse could be attributed to poverty and the lack of viable survival alternatives.

Attahiru Jega, co-chairman of the presidential livestock reforms implementation committee, says Nigeria’s livestock sector is starting to attract foreign investors.

The former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman said the federal government’s reforms are fuelling the interest.

He said partnerships with global players are crucial to achieving the sector’s full potential.

Jega spoke on Saturday during the inauguration of the Ngarannam Livestock Improvement and Ranch Settlement in Mafa LGA of Borno state.

 

While delivering the keynote address, Jega said the settlement is part of a broader national effort to modernise Nigeria’s livestock sector.

He called for collective action from private and public stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the government’s reforms.

“The livestock reforms are not just the responsibility of the federal government or the state governments alone. It is critical that all stakeholders ranchers, farmers, policymakers, and international partners work together to ensure the success of this initiative,” he said.

Jega said it is important to integrate innovative solutions to boost productivity and ensure long-term sustainability.

“We must embrace modern ranching techniques, focus on breed improvement, and provide adequate training to livestock farmers. This will enhance the quality of meat and dairy products while creating jobs and economic opportunities for our people,” he said.

“International partners such as JBS S.A., Saudi Arabia, the United States, and China have already expressed interest in investing in our livestock sector. This is a clear indication that the reforms we are implementing are gaining global recognition.”

Baba Usman-Ngelzarma, the national president of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), described the livestock settlement as a testament to a “collective commitment” toward enhancing the livelihood of pastoralists.

“This initiative is not just a beacon of hope but a practical solution to many of the problems faced by pastoralist communities,” he said.

“It is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a common purpose and share a commitment to progress.”

The MACBAN president commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the ministry of livestock development, adding that the sector currently employs over 20 million Nigerians and has the potential to create more jobs.

Umar Kadafur, the deputy governor of Borno, said the Ngarannam ranch is equipped with over 27 essential facilities, including a breeding centre, earth dams, and solar-powered boreholes for irrigation and livestock needs.

Kadafur, who doubles as the state’s commissioner for livestock development, added that over 200 hectares of rain-fed pasture had been cultivated to support year-round grazing.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigerians must build a strong, united and indivisible country.

In a post on X on Saturday, Tinubu said while presenting the proposed 2025 budget of N49.7 trillion to the national assembly on December 18, he told the lawmakers that his administration is building a Nigeria “where peace reigns, opportunities abound, and every citizen can dream, work, and thrive in safety”.

The president said his ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’ is for the growth and progress of the country.

“We have to move forward, not as individuals but as one united nation, determined to rewrite our story for the generations to come,” Tinubu wrote.

During the presentation of the Appropriation Bill, last month, Tinubu said the proposed budget reinforces his administration’s roadmap to secure peace, prosperity, and hope for a greater future for Nigeria.

“The time for lamentation is over. This is a time to act. A time to support and promote greater investment in the private sector. A time for every Nigerian to look hopefully towards a brighter future because a new day has dawned for us as a nation,” the president said.

“Together, we have embarked on a journey of transformation and reform, and while the road has not been easy, the progress we have made is undeniable.”

On December 19, the appropriation bill scaled the second reading at the senate and house of representatives.

On January 6, heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) began defending their budget estimates before the relevant committees of the national assembly.

The national assembly is expected to pass the budget by the end of January.

Sam Adeyemi, senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, says President Bola Tinubu must give youths compelling pictures of what Nigeria will look like in the next 30 years.

Speaking on the topic ‘Leadership Shift: Redefining Influence’ on Saturday when he featured on Channels Television, Adeyemi said whatever a person sees consistently over time enters their heart and puts their life on autopilot.

When asked how that can be applied to the federal government’s proposed National Youth Confab, he said “Mr president needs to come with pictures, 3D of what Nigeria will be like in 30 years’ time”.

Tinubu had, in his nationwide broadcast on October 1, said he would set up a 30-Day National Youth Confab for youths in the country to discuss and address challenges confronting them.

Speaking further, Adeyemi said leaders must strive to change people’s belief systems to create sustainable change.

“No leader will create sustainable change if he or she cannot shift the mindset, and you cannot shift the people’s culture without shifting people’s belief and their mindset,” he said.

“I have an ex-governor who is a friend. I went to visit him whilst he was governor. And then he said, ‘Brother Sam, my biggest problem is not infrastructure’. They were celebrating two years in office then and he was celebrating over two years

“He said ‘when I want to do a job, I get the best contractor to do the job’. He said ‘my biggest problem is mindset’. He said ‘on my own cabinet, one of the members of the state executive came to tell me that they were having a conversation somewhere and they were saying: the governor will just be talking about vision. Will we eat vision?’

“He said ‘Can you imagine that the people on my cabinet – the state executive does not even understand vision? They don’t value vision; they are just looking for what they want to eat talk less of the citizens’.”

Adeyemi said the dynamics of leadership must change for the development of Nigeria.

He said many people’s New Year resolutions are already unraveling because there can’t be sustainable change until it is brought about from the subconscious to the conscious.

“You can’t kill a habit; you have to replace it with a new one — nature harbors a vacuum,” he said.

Two male factory workers have died after falling inside a diesel reservoir in the Ikosi area of Lagos state. 

A statement by Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said preliminary investigations revealed that “one of the men (an adult) accidentally fell into the diesel reservoir while working”.

He said the second worker, in an attempt to rescue this colleague, also fell into the reservoir.

Oke-Osanyintolu said both victims were rescued by officials of LASEMA and fire service who arrived at the scene.

“Both victims sustained severe conditions and were promptly transported” to the hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) after receiving first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),” the statement reads.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that the victims later died at the medical facility despite all efforts to revive them.

Save for the intervention of Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and officials of Ibom Air, a female passenger would have been lynched by other angry passengers after her ‘unruly behaviour’ caused the cancellation of an Uyo-Abuja flight at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last Wednesday.

This was revealed by the spokesman of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday.

Achimugu said the unnamed female passenger’s action caused 89 other passengers on board to lose their valuable time, money, and opportunities with Ibom Air losing millions of naira in addition to ‘a serious scheduling conundrum’.

He narrated: “On Wednesday, 08/01/2025, an Ibom Air flight scheduled to depart Uyo for Abuja at 1730hrs was viciously disrupted by a single passenger’s unruly behaviour.

“Her actions (captured below by other irate passengers) ensured that 89 other passengers on board lost valuable time, money, and opportunities. She also caused Ibom Air millions of naira plus a serious scheduling conundrum.

“All passengers had been informed during check-in that, due to weight restrictions, some or all of their luggage MAY NOT arrive on the same flight. Passengers with luggage above 20kg signed indemnity forms in this regard, while those whose bags were in the region of 20kg were informed verbally that their bags would arrive on the next scheduled flight. They agreed, including this passenger.

“After boarding, she noticed that her bag was not among the luggage loaded into the bowels of the aircraft. She angrily stepped down from the aircraft and insisted that her bags be loaded. Otherwise, NOBODY was going to fly.

“Even the intervention of FAAN AVSEC and the pilot did not let her budge. The pilot offered to carry her checked in bag in the cabin, but the size did not fit.

“All the while, the pilot was taking note of the time because Uyo was a sunset airport, and the airspace would be shut down any moment.

“AVSEC then explained to the angry passenger that she would have to be deboarded if she refused to travel without the bag. She asked to be allowed to pick her handbag from the cabin, only to get in there and block the aisle, insisting that the flight would not depart without her bags.

“Among the 89 other passengers was an infant and a chef who was travelling to provide paid service to a big client in Abuja.

“Despite all pleas, she held the plane hostage until the airspace was closed. Consequently, the pilot had to announce a cancellation of the flight.

“It was at that moment that other passengers became irate. Had AVSEC and Ibom Air personnel led by Amaka Echetabu not been on top of their game, the unruly passenger would have been lynched.”

Achimugu saluted the timely intervention that saved the woman’s life, noting that the airline had to provide immediate refreshment, transportation for passengers who were resident in Uyo, and hotel accommodation for those who came from out of town at great and avoidable cost.

“This means that the airline would have catered twice for the same flight.

“Added to this was the fact that a scheduling challenge has now been created automatically, one that will take days to normalize. For an industry where profit margins are extremely thin, this was very avoidable,” the NCAA director of public affairs and consumer protection added.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has clarified that recent disruptions in power supply were due to the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line, contrary to reports that the national grid collapsed.

Earlier, it was widely reported that the national grid had collapsed on Saturday.

TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, however, said the report was a misinformation.

“The TCN hereby states that the nation’s grid did not experience any collapse today, contrary to the widely published misinformation in the media.

“Earlier today, at about 13:41 Hrs, the Osogbo-Ihovour line tripped, followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line. These consequently affected bulk supply to only the Lagos axis alone,” TCN spokesperson said.

Mbah also clarified that at about 13:00pm, just before the tripping, total generation on the grid was 4,335.63MW, however, after the trippings, generation was 2,573.23MW, showing clearly that the grid did not experience any glitch.

She noted that the transmission line tripping affected Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu, and Paras, but they have all been restored except for the Benin-Omotoso 330kV line, which restoration was ongoing.

“As TCN continues to work hard to put in place a robust transmission grid, in spite of prevailing challenges. It is imperative that we understand the negative impact of deliberately misinforming the public and the value of disseminating true and verifiable facts,” Mbah added.