140m Nigerians Lack Access To Justice – HiiL

The country representative of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Ijeoma Nwafor, has disclosed that about 140 million Nigerians currently lack access to justice, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in the justice sector.

Nwafor made this known during the launch of justice sector guidelines in Katsina, where she emphasised that the challenge reflects a wider global issue affecting billions of people.

According to her, barriers such as distance to courts, high legal costs, and complex procedures have made it difficult for many Nigerians especially those in rural areas to seek justice.

“Justice should be people-centred and easy to access. Most people do not go to court because the system is not user-friendly. They simply want their grievances heard and resolved without unnecessary complications,” she said.

She warned that the lack of accessible justice systems has contributed to rising frustration among citizens, sometimes resulting in unlawful actions, including mob justice.

Nwafor noted that HiiL is working to bridge the gap by promoting solutions that integrate informal and formal justice systems, particularly by recognising the role of traditional and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.

She explained that the newly launched guidelines were developed through extensive research and consultations with key stakeholders, including farmers, herders, traditional rulers, law enforcement agencies, and legal practitioners.

The initiative, she said, aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.3, which seeks to ensure equal access to justice for all.

She added that the effort is part of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (SPRING), supported by International Department Partners aimed at strengthening peace and resilience across communities in Nigeria.

Nwafor expressed optimism that the guidelines would help simplify justice processes, improve communication among stakeholders, and ultimately expand access to justice for millions of Nigerians.

Earlier, the commissioner for justice and attorney general, Fadila Muhammad DIkko represented by the director citizens’ right of the ministry, A. L Buhari, said the initiative aligns with the reform agenda of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, particularly in strengthening alternative dispute resolution and promoting people-centred justice.

Adding that It also complements recently adopted standard procedures aimed at improving access to justice and reducing community-level conflicts.

The launched of new guidelines under the SPRING Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), targeting farmer, herder conflicts across Kaduna State, Katsina State, Plateau State, and Benue State.

About 2,400 people were trained across the states, including 600 in Katsina, to strengthen community-based mediation and dispute resolution.

The guidelines aim to prevent land conflicts, reduce court cases, and promote resilience, trust in institutions, and peaceful coexistence.