Over 98% of the people reading this subject haven’t been to Prison before. The first thing that comes to an ordinary crime-free Nigerian is a mental picture of a room with Iron bar doors. Well in Nigeria, there are different types of prison. The class of people with the Jurisdiction to know about all prison types is Lawyers, judges and Police officers. A prison is designed for individuals that have broken the law.

In not less than 1000 words, let’s talk about the different types of prisons we have in our country.

Who  manages the prisons in our country?

Let’s start off with the people that manage the Prisons in Nigeria. They are the NPS, an acronym for “Nigerian Prisons Services”. They are the only body that has legal rights to operate all prisons in the country.

The Nigerian prison service has its National office located in Abuja. It would be important to also note that they don’t work alone. They work in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. NPS has offices across all 36 states of Nigeria. The prison Services has improved vastly since the British Empire left the Nigerian shores.

Their responsibilities include the following:

• They ensure that all the different types of Prisons as operated as the law states.
• They make sure that prisons are more secure, and that the prison staffs are doing their job effectively.
• They also see to it that inmates are well escorted from prison to court and from court to prison.
• Finally, they collect data and analyze data.

With over 250 million people in this country, I guess we need a lot of prisons right? Most of Nigerian prisons can carry up to 75000 people. In Nigeria, there are more males in custody than women.

Without any further ado, let’s delve into the types of prisons in Nigeria proper.

What are the Types of Prisons in Nigeria?

Some criminals are dangerous, whilst others aren’t. Differences in offender personality can warrant that a person’s on custody stay indifferent prison types. Some differences could be gender-associated, age-related or maybe mental health.

The following are the different types of prisons we have in Nigeria.

• Female only prisons
• Security prisons
• Military Prisons
• Juveniles / Minor correctional Facilities
• Psychiatric prisons.

Female only prisons

Nigeria has two female-only prisons. When women in the country break the law, they are sent there. The names of these two prisons are Kirikiri and Numan old prison respectively. They are located in Lagos state and Adamawa state respectively. A lady that has turned 18 years of age can be sent to either of the correctional facilities. Women in custody stay there for months, even years awaiting their trial by the court. Nigeria had only one female prison in Kirikiri up until 2017. In the year 2017, the Federal Government established its second female prison in Adamawa state. This is the aforementioned prison known as the Numan Old prison. It has a capacity of 400 inmates.

Security prisons

Security prisons in Nigeria have three main subcategories. They include minimum security, the medium-security, and the maximum-security prisons. The minimum security prisons are meant for defaulters of crimes that are not that serious. Some of these crimes include; Fraud, domestic violence and theft. The second subcategory of security prisons houses criminals. This is because they need to be locked away from society so that they can’t cause more damage. An example of the medium-security prison is the Kuje prison.

Now, the grand finale, the Maximum security prisons! This is the humble abode of all the Very dangerous people in Nigeria, I’m talking about people that have killed people, indulged in hyper-violent acts, etc. they are locked away in complete isolation from everyone. An example of a maximum-security prison in Nigeria is the Gashua Maximum Prison.

Military prison

Is a force man?  Have you served in the Nigerian army, or committed Military crimes? Then, you would serve jail time in a military prison.  Currently, the state of the Nigerian military prisons is nothing to write home about. So, if you are a uniform man or woman, try not to break the hedge of the law.

Juveniles/Minor correctional facilities

A juvenile in law jargon is a person below the age of criminal prosecution, which is 18 years. Nigeria has Juvenile prisons for under-aged individuals that break the law and disturb society. These places serve as correctional facilities for juvenile detainees. Amongst the 90,000 prisoners in Nigeria, there are only 2% juveniles in Prison. Juveniles are not allowed to go to the same prison that adults go to. They are always sent to a correctional facility.

So if you are a small boy and think you can carry a gun and get away with it, I hope this article acts as an eye-opener. Nobody is above the law, not even 3-year-olds.

Psychiatric Prisons

An individual with mental instability that breaks the law, is always sent to psychiatric prisons.  They are also given Mental health care in these psychiatric prisons. There is a major development by the federal government about this.

Now let’s take a good  look at the complete list of all the prisons in Nigeria

List of Prisons in Nigeria, Names, And Location

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kuje, Abuja.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Suleja, Abuja.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Dukpa Farm Center, Abuja.

List of Prisons in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Aba
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Arochukwu
3. Federal Prison Umuahia

List of Prisons in Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria

1. Dumne Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Ganye Adamawa State
3. Gombi Satelite Prison, Adamawa State
4. Gulak Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
5. Guyuk Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
6. Hong Satellie Prison, Adamawa State
7. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Jada, Adamawa State
8. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Jimeta, Adamawa State
9. Karlami Satelite Prison, Adamawa State
10. Kijoli Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
11. Maina Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
12. Juneobelwa Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
13. Michika Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
14. Federal Prison (Medium Security)s , Mubi, Adamawa State
15. Federal Prison (Medium Security)s, Numan, Adamawa State
16. Shellang Satellite Prison, Adamawa State
17. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Yola, Adamawa State.
18. List of Prisons in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria
19. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Aguata, Anambra State
20. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Awka, Anambra State
21. Federal Maximum Security Prison, Nnewi Anambra State
22. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Nnewi, Anambra State
23. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Onitsha, Anambra State

List of Prisons in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Abak, Akwa Ibom State
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Eket, Akwa Ibom State
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Ikot- Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria

1. Alkaleri Satellite Prison, Bauchi State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Azare, Bauchi State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Bauchi, Bauchi State.
4. Burra Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
5. Darazo Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
6. Gamawa Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
7. Katagun Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
8. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Misau, Bauchi State.
9. Federal Maximum Security Prison Jama’are, Bauchi State.
10. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ningi, Bauchi State.
11. Shira Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
12. Tafawa Balewa Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
13. Tora Satellite Prison, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

List of Prisons in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Okaka, Bayelsa State.

List of Prisons in Benue State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gboko, Benue State
2. Federal Maximum Security Prison, Makurdi, Benue State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Otukpo, Benue State.

List of Prisons in Borno State, North-Eastern Nigeria

1. Askira Satellite Prison, Borno State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Bama, Borno State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Biu, Borno State.
4. Damasak Satellite Prison, Borno State.
5. Gamboru-Ngala Satellite Prison, Borno State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gwoza, Borno State.
7. Konduga Satellite Prison, Borno State.
8. Kukawa Satellite Prison, Borno State.
9. Kumshe Satellite Prison, Borno State.
10. Kwayakusar Satellite Prison, Borno State.
11. Maiduguri Farm Center Prison, Borno State.
12. Maximum Security Prison, Maiduguri, Borno State.
13. Mongolono Satelite Prison, Borno State.
14. New Maiduguri Prison, Borno State.
15. Shani Satellite Prison, Borno State.

List of Prisons in Cross River State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Adim Farm, Cross River State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Calabar, Cross River State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ikom, Cross River State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Obubra, Cross River State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Obudu, Cross River State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Ogoja, Cross River State.

List of Prisons in Delta State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Agbor, Delta State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kwale, Delta State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ogwuashi-Ukwu, Delta State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Sapele, Delta State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Okere, Warri, Delta State.

List of Prisons in Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Afikpo, Ebonyi State.

List of Prisons in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Auchi
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ibite-Olo Farm
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Nsukka
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Oji River

List of Prisons in Edo State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Auchi
2. New Benin Prison, Edo State,
3. Old Benin Prison,
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ogba Farm,
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ozalla Farm,
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ubiaja

List of Prisons in Ekiti State, South-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ado-Ekiti

List of Prisons Gombe State, Northern Nigeria

1. Bajora Satellite Prison, Gombe State.
2. Billiri Satellite Prison, Gombe State.
3. Cham Satellite Prison, Gombe State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gombe State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Tula, Gombe State.

List of Prisons in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Okigwe
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Orreh Farm
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Owerri

List of Prisons in Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria

1. Birnin Kudu Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Birnin Kudu Farm, Jigawa State.
3. Dutse Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
4. Garki-Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gumel, Jigawa State.
6. Gwaram Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
7. Hadejia New Prison, Jigawa State.
8. Jahum Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
9. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kazaure, Jigawa State.
10. Kiyawa Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.
11. Ringim Satellite Prison, Jigawa State.

List of Prisons in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Borstal, Kaduna State.
3. Gwantu Satellite Prison, Kaduna State.
4. Ikara Satellite Prison, Kaduna State.
5. Kachia Satellite Prison, Kaduna State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kaduna, Kaduna State.
7. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
8. Kakuri Prison Camp, Kaduna State.
9. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kujama Farm, Kaduna State.
10. Kwoi Satellite Prison, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
11. Makarfi Satellite Prison, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
12. Manchok Satellite Prison, Kaduna State.
13. Saminaka Satellite Prison, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
14. Soba Satellite Prison, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
15. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Zaria, Kaduna State.

List of Prisons in Kano State, Northern Nigeria

1. Bichi Satellite Prison, Kano, Kano State.
2. Dawakin Tofa Satellite Prison, Kano, Kano State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Goron Dutse, Kano State.
4. Gwarzo New Satellite Prison, Kano State.
5. Kano Central Prison, Kano, Kano State.
6. Kiru Satellite Prison, Kano, Kano State.
7. Rano Satellite Prison, Kano, Kano State.
8. Sumaila Satellite Prison, Kano, Kano State.
9. Tudun Wada Satellite Prison, Kano State.
10. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Wudil, Kano State.

List of Prisons in Katsina State, Northern Nigeria

1. Old Daura Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
2. Dutsinma Satellite Prison, Katsina State.
3. Ingawa Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
4. Jibia Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
5. Kankia Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Katsina, Katsina State.
7. Malumfashi Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
8. Mani Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.
9. New Maximum Security Prison, Funtua, Katsina State.
10. Musawa Satellite Prison, Katsina, Katsina State.

List of Prisons in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Argungu, Kebbi State.
2. Bagundu Satellite Prison, Kebbi State.
3. Jega Satellite Prison, Kebbi State.
4. Kamba Satellite Prison, Kebbi State.
5. Kangiwa Satellite Prison, Kebbi State.
6. New Kebbi Prison, Kebbi State.
7. Old Kebbi Prison, Kebbi State.
8. Wara Satellite Prison, Kebbi State.
9. Federal Prison (Medium Security), YElwa Yauri, Kebbi State.
10. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Zuru, Kebbi State.

List of Prisons in Kogi State, Nigeria.

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ankpa, Kogi State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Dekina, Kogi State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Idah, Kogi State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kabba, Kogi State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Koton-Karfe, Kogi State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Okene. Kogi State.

List of Prisons in Kwara State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ilorin, Kwara State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Mandala (New Ilorin) Kwara State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Lafiagi, Kwara State.
4. Federal Maximum Security Prison, Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

List of Prisons in Lagos State, South-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Badagry, Lagos State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ikoyi, Lagos State.
3. Maximum Security Prison, KiriKiri, Lagos State.
4. Medium Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos State.
5. Kirikiri Women’s Prison, Lagos State.

List of Prisons in Nasarawa State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Lafia, Nassarawa State.
2. Maximum Security Prison, Keffi, Nassarawa State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Nassarawa State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Keffi, Nassarawa State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Wamba, Nassarawa State.

List of Prisons Niger State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Agaie, Niger State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Bida, Niger State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Kagara, Niger State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Lapai Niger State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Minna, Niger State.
6. Maximum Security Prison, Kotongora, Niger State.
7. Maximum Security Prison, Minna, Niger State.
8. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Bussa (New) Niger State.

List of Prisons in Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ilaro, Ogun State.
5. New Maximum Security Prison, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Shagamu, Ogun State.

List of Prisons in Ondo State, South-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Female Prison, Ondo State.
2. Maximum Security Prison, Akure, Ondo State.
3. Maximum Security Prison, Ondo State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Okitipupa, Ondo State
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security),Owo, Ondo State.

List of Prisons in Osun State, Sout]h-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ilesa, Osun State.

List of Prisons in Oyo State, South-Western Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Agodi, Oyo State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ogbomosho Farm, Oyo State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Oyo, Oyo State.

List of Prisons in Plateau State, Nigeria.

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Jos, Plateau State.
2. Lakushi Farm Prison, Plateau State.
3. Lamingo Prison Camp, Plateau State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security) Langtang, Plateau State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Pankshin, Plateau State.
6. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Shedam, Plateau State.
7. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Wase, Plateau State.

List of Prisons in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Ahoada, Rivers State.
2. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Degema, Rivers State.
3. Elele Farm Prison, Rivers State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Port Hacourt.

List of Prisons in Sokoto State, Northern Nigeria

1. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Farm Center, Bissalam, Sokoto State.
2. Gwadabawa Satellite Prison, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
3. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Sokoto, Sokoto State.
4. Tambuwal Satellite Prison, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
5. Wurno Satellite Prison, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

List of Prisons in Taraba State, Northern Nigeria

1. Baissa Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
2. Bali Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
3. Gassol Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
4. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gembu, Taraba State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Jalingo, Taraba State.
6. Karin- Lamido Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
7. Lau Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
8. M/Biyu Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
9. New Wukari Prison, Taraba State.
10. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Taraba State.
11. Takum Satellite Prison, Taraba State.
12. Zing Satellite Prison, Taraba State.

List of Prisons in Yobe State, Northern Nigeria

1. Dahagun Satellite Prison, Yobe State.
2. Damaturu Satellite Prison, Yobe State.
3. Dapchi Satellite Prison, Yobe State.
4. Fika Satellite Prison, Yobe State.
5. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Gashua, Yobe State.
6. Geidam Satellite Prison, Yobe State.
7. Maximum Security Prison, Pokitsum, Yobe State.
8. Federal Prison (Medium Security), Nguru, Yobe State.

List of Prisons in Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria

1. Gumi Satellite Prison, Zamfara State.
2. Maximum Security Prison, Gusau, Zamfara State.
3. Kaura Namoda Satellite Prison, Zamfara State.
4. Maru Satellite Prison, Zamfara State.
5. Talata Mafara Satellite, Zamfara State.