On May 8, 2025, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf secured the release of 22 pregnant women and nursing mothers from the Kurmawa Central Prison and other custodial facilities in Kano, as part of a prison decongestion initiative.
The women, detained for minor offenses like theft and debt, were freed following a review by the state’s Prerogative of Mercy Committee, which identified 60% of them as first-time offenders. Yusuf, acting on legal advice, paid ₦5 million in fines and provided ₦10,000 transport allowances per woman, aiming to reunite them with their families and reduce prison overcrowding, which affects 75% of Nigeria’s 85,000 inmates.
Kano’s prison system, housing 3,500 inmates against a 2,000 capacity, has drawn criticism for poor conditions, with 40% of female inmates lacking access to prenatal care. The release, coordinated with the Nigerian Correctional Service, included medical screenings for the women, 70% of whom were pregnant or had infants under six months. Yusuf’s administration, which allocated ₦2 billion for prison reforms in 2024, plans to free 100 more inmates by July 2025, focusing on juveniles and the elderly. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s 2023 Criminal Justice Act, emphasizing non-custodial measures for vulnerable groups.
The freed women, primarily from Kano’s 44 LGAs, received vocational training referrals to prevent recidivism, with 80% enrolling in tailoring and soap-making programs. Nigeria’s prison congestion, costing $500 million annually, sees 30% of inmates detained for minor crimes. Yusuf’s move, praised by 90% of local NGOs, addresses gender-specific incarceration challenges, as women constitute 5% of Kano’s prison population. The governor urged community reintegration, noting that 50% of released inmates face stigma, and plans a $1 million maternal health fund to support similar cases by 2026.