The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Anthony Ojukwu, announced that Nigeria has earned a Grade “A” Status for the fifth time in implementing international human rights standards at the national level. This announcement was made during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day, organized by the commission and observed annually on December 10.
Dr. Ojukwu highlighted the commission’s thorough and objective investigations into allegations of gross human rights violations in the country. He emphasized that this year’s theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” serves as a wake-up call for Nigeria to take deliberate steps to close gaps in human rights protection to ensure a better future.
He urged the Federal Government to swiftly implement the recommendations of the NHRC’s Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North East Nigeria (SIIP North-East). This, he said, would help heal the wounds of human rights violations. Dr. Ojukwu noted that the landmark report of the panel dismissed allegations by Reuters regarding the Nigerian Army’s involvement in a secret systematic and illegal abortion program, the massacre of children, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence during its operations in the troubled region.
The NHRC’s report on the defunct SARS Panel remains a reference point for human rights defenders, given its crucial role in ongoing police reforms. The panel, which submitted its reports to the federal government under former President Muhammad Buhari, made far-reaching recommendations on police reform, including the establishment of State and Local Government Police. Dr. Ojukwu commended the federal government for providing funds for compensation as recommended by the commission.
Dr. Ojukwu reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria becomes a model and bastion of human rights protection, worthy of attention from other African nations and beyond.
In a message on the occasion, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in promoting and protecting human rights. He stated that the federal government is working tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all Nigerians and every person living in Nigeria are respected, protected, and fulfilled. Fagbemi highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the institutional framework for human rights promotion and protection, aligning laws, policies, and practices with international standards.
Fagbemi assured Nigerians that President Tinubu’s administration is human rights-friendly and attentive. He commended the government’s steps in the interest of justice and human rights, including the discontinuation of the prosecution of children and young persons arraigned for treason following the End Bad Governance protests of August and October 2024. He emphasized the government’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the private sector, to promote a culture of respect for human rights in Nigeria.
