Lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has urged the judiciary to adopt non-custodial sentencing for first-time and non-violent offenders to address overcrowding in correctional facilities.

Adeyanju made this appeal in Abuja while reacting to the inauguration of the Kaduna Open Custodial Facility, also known as the “Reformed Bakery,” powered by the Ministry of Interior.

According to Adeyanju, the facility represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s correctional approach by focusing on rehabilitation, vocational training, and reintegration. “It is a forward-thinking model that gives inmates a second chance to become productive members of society, aligns with global best practices, and speaks to a justice system that values rehabilitation over punishment,” he said.

Adeyanju emphasised the need to re-evaluate sentencing practices, advocating for alternatives like community service and vocational programmes over incarceration. “Offenders should not be made to sleep in these facilities; rather, their correction should be anchored in accountability, skill-building, and reintegration,” he stated.

He called for the establishment of more open custodial centres across the country.

to alleviate prison overcrowding and prevent minor offenders from being exposed to hardened criminals.

“Expanding open custodial centres like this across the country is a matter of urgency. Not only will it reduce prison overcrowding, but it will also help to prevent the dangerous cycle of criminal hardening that often occurs when minor offenders are housed with violent criminals,” he explained.

“A justice system that truly reforms must prioritise second chances, and this facility is a shining example of that possibility,” Adeyanju concluded.