Lagos community service rehabilitates 27,529 offenders, saves N289bn – A-G
The Lagos State Government says it saved an estimated N289.74 billion and rehabilitated 27,529 offenders between 2012 and 2025 through its community service scheme.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the scheme as a major pillar of justice reform and prison decongestion in the state.
He was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Adebayo Haroun.
Pedro also revealed that each offender placed on community service instead of custodial detention saved the government about N1.06 million annually.
He said this underscored the financial and social impact of the non-custodial sentencing programme.
The attorney-general said this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on the community service scheme held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.
The report states that justice sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and former beneficiaries reviewed the impact of the initiative.
Pedro said the success of the scheme depended on sustained stakeholder participation and public support.
According to him, modern criminal justice systems must go beyond punishment and focus on reform, behavioural change and reintegration.
“The administration of criminal justice in any modern society must continually evolve to reflect changing realities and emerging best practices,” he said.
The attorney-general explained that the Community Service Unit of the Ministry of Justice served as the operational hub for implementing court-ordered community service.
He said the unit handled offender assessment, placement, monitoring and reporting.
While presenting an analysis of the scheme’s performance, Pedro said that the programme had become one of the most impactful alternatives to imprisonment in Lagos State.
He said this was beyond the cumulative 27,529 offenders supervised over 14 years under the scheme.
He said data further revealed that 3,109 offenders were recorded in 2018, the highest annual figure.
According to him, 2,684 cases were recorded in 2024, while 1,451 were recorded in 2025 so far, indicating evolving trends in sentencing and rehabilitation.
Pedro also said that Lagos Island and Ikeja recorded the highest concentration of offenders in 2025.
He said Lagos Island recorded 727 cases (50 per cent), while Ikeja recorded 418 cases (29 per cent).
According to Pedro, the concentration highlights the need for targeted community interventions in high-density justice zones.
In spite of the achievements, the attorney-general identified challenges, including manpower shortages, limited public awareness, inadequate placement opportunities and logistical constraints.
He urged stronger private sector participation through corporate social responsibility initiatives, vocational training, mentorship and structured work placements.
“The private sector has an important role to play in offender rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.
A former beneficiary, simply identified as Gbenga, shared his experience.
He said he spent nearly eight years in custody before benefiting from counselling and a three-month community service placement that helped him rebuild his life.
Gbenga said he acquired photography and video production skills while in custody.
He added that he later enrolled at the National Open University of Nigeria.
Panelists, including Mrs Joke Aladesanmi, Mrs Tomi Bodude, Mr Lucas Koyejo of the National Human Rights Commission, and Rev. Adebola Nuga, called for stronger reintegration systems and sustained community involvement.
They unanimously agreed that, with more than 27,000 lives impacted and nearly N290 billion saved, community service had become a central tool for justice reform in Lagos State.