OVER 27,000 OFFENDERS PASS THROUGH LAGOS COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHEME AS MINISTRY SEEKS GREATER STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
About 27,529 offenders have passed through the Lagos State Ministry of Justice Community Service Unit (CSU) between its establishment in 2012 and 2025, according to official figures released by the state government.
The data was disclosed at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on community service organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice CSU in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), with support from the European Union. The event had the theme “Justice That Serves The Community.”
The Ministry also revealed that 5,440 offenders were supervised and rehabilitated through community service between 2023 and 2025 alone, underscoring increased reliance on non-custodial sentencing as an alternative to imprisonment.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice called for stronger collaboration from corporate organisations, professional bodies, development partners, civil society groups, faith-based institutions, educational establishments and community leaders to support the initiative.
Officials said broader stakeholder participation was necessary to deepen rehabilitation efforts, reduce recidivism, decongest correctional facilities and promote safer communities across the state.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, and the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Hameed Oyenuga, were represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adebayo Haroun.
Haroun said evaluations of the scheme had shown positive outcomes, including improved compliance among offenders, reduced congestion in correctional facilities and significant savings in public expenditure that would otherwise be used for short-term incarceration.
He noted that many offenders who might have been imprisoned for minor offences were instead given the opportunity to perform community-based work, develop discipline and remain socially stable while serving their sentences.
According to him, the scheme has been particularly effective for non-violent and minor offences where custodial sentencing may be excessive and counterproductive.
However, he identified challenges affecting implementation, including manpower shortages, limited placement opportunities, logistics constraints and low public awareness.
Haroun explained that the CSU is responsible for receiving offenders sentenced by courts, assessing them individually, assigning them to approved work placements, supervising compliance and reporting progress to the judiciary.
He also called on the private sector to play a more active role in supporting the programme through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, vocational training, mentorship schemes and work placement opportunities.
According to him, stronger private sector involvement would directly contribute to offender rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Legal practitioners and members of the Nigerian Bar Association were urged to help raise awareness of non-custodial sentencing and support the development of a more restorative justice system.
Community leaders were also encouraged to support reintegration efforts, noting that long-term rehabilitation depends on social acceptance and access to productive opportunities after sentence completion.
Speaking further, Ms. Komolafe Olanrewaju led a session where beneficiaries shared testimonies of personal transformation, skills development and reintegration experiences.
A panel session moderated by Joke Aladesanmi examined challenges affecting the community service scheme and proposed solutions to improve its effectiveness.
Officials reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening non-custodial sentencing as part of broader criminal justice reforms aimed at building safer and more productive communities.
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