Despite a growing number of inmates on death row—currently 4,329 across Nigerian custodial facilities—Nigeria has received commendation for ten years without carrying out a state execution. Stakeholders within the justice sector and international foreign missions have applauded this de facto abolitionist shift. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) recently released figures highlighting the large population facing capital punishment. This development signals a potential move away from the death penalty in Nigeria, though legal reforms have not yet been enacted. Foreign missions view this period as a positive sign regarding human rights. The continued absence of executions reflects a changing attitude toward capital punishment within Nigeria.