Rehabilitation programme is one of the primary goals of correctional centres. However, the problems of rehabilitation of inmates are a major social problem in almost all the security custodial services in Nigeria. The study is an assessed the state of rehabilitation programmes in Nigerian correctional centres. The study was anchored on the rehabilitation theory. Data collected for the study were from secondary sources. The findings revealed a mixed perception of rehabilitation programme functionality, with inmates viewing them as less effective while correctional officials considered them fairly functional. The study also identified challenges such as inadequate funding, limited facilities, insufficient trained personnel, and inconsistent implementation.

The study concluded that there is a mixed perception about the functionality programmes among the members of the correctional community. Effective rehabilitation programmes promote accountability among correctional officials and ensure the efficient use of resources by correctional management. The study recommends that more attention and resources be channeled to the vocational training of the inmates, the study also recommended that inmates should serve their periods of sentence and there should be a committee set up to periodically supervise the activities and across the correctional centers regarding rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration programmes in Nigeria correctional centers.

Furthermore, there is the need for urgent legislation on realistic correctional reforms and policies that would emphasize on eradicating corruption among the correctional officials.