A new national report has revealed that 74% of children and young adults in Nigeria’s borstal institutions are being held without conviction, spotlighting critical delays and systemic flaws in the country’s juvenile justice system.
The 2024 report, titled “An Assessment of the Situation of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty in Nigeria”, was developed by the Ministry of Interior with support from UNICEF Nigeria. Published in 2025, the document offers an in-depth look at the state of justice and care for minors in detention.
Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 133,906 minors were detained across 87 adult custodial centres, three borstals, and 22 remand homes. Of these, 122,564 were held in adult prisons, while 3,967 were kept in borstals and 7,375 in remand homes.
The report exposes major gender and age disparities, with 95% of the total detainees being male. Over 2,100 were under the age of 16, and the vast majority—over 120,000—were aged between 16 and 20.
In remand homes, children between 11 and 17 dominated the population, with many arrested for minor offences. Stealing and theft made up 47% of charges in 17 states, followed by rape (2.8%), murder, cultism, and loosely defined “child protection” offences like wandering or being “beyond parental control.”
A lack of legal aid continues to be a major obstacle. More than 68% of detainees lacked legal representation, contributing to prolonged pre-trial detention. Meanwhile, nearly 65% of them expressed concerns over slow judicial processes.
Beyond legal setbacks, detained children face severe living conditions, including abuse, torture, poor healthcare and education, and overcrowded, unsanitary facilities. The report also links poverty, abandonment, and inability to meet bail terms as key factors in prolonged detention.
The report calls for urgent reforms to protect the rights of minors in custody and ensure fair and timely access to justice. It advocates for a child-centered justice system that prioritizes dignity, rehabilitation, and equal protection under the law.
