Nigeria, Aug. 15 -- The panel investigating abuses within the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) on Thursday called for intentional adoption of non-custodial measures to reduce overcrowding in correctional centres.

"It is very clear that the issue of non-custodial measures is something that is supposed to help us as a nation address the overbearing population in our various custodial centres," said the secretary of the panel, Uju Agomoh, on the fourth day of the last phase of the panel's public hearing.

She added, "There are persons who may not need to be treated in terms of being in custody, and the panel feels that this is something we should utilise and find a way to use this creatively. But it's obvious that we do not seem to have ...