Every society is ultimately judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. In Nigeria, the imperative is clear: human dignity must be at the heart of justice reform.

What Is People-Centred Justice?

People-centred justice shifts the focus from punishment alone to human rights, empathy, and rehabilitation. It prioritises understanding the real needs of individuals and communities rather than relying solely on rigid procedures or harsh penalties.

Human rights are not abstract ideals; they are essentials that shape daily life, including security, fairness, dignity, and opportunity. In a period of turbulence and unpredictability, when many feel insecurity, alienation, or disaffection, reinforcing these values is crucial. A justice system rooted in human rights demonstrates that these principles are positive, attainable, and essential for a stable, inclusive society.

Globally, only a fraction of disputes reach formal courts, highlighting the need for accessible, fair, and community-based solutions. In Nigeria, justice must begin where people live, in communities, families, and everyday institutions, ensuring that even those in conflict with the law can rebuild their lives.

Key Challenges in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System

• Multi-sectoral inefficiencies: Delays arise from the interaction of police, courts, lawyers, and correctional services.

• Prolonged detention and pre-trial delays: Administrative gaps, unprepared parties, and poor case management extend detention periods unnecessarily, causing psychological and social harm.

• Limited legal representation: Many detainees, especially at lower courts, lack access to competent advocacy or pro bono services, leaving their rights unprotected.

• Procedural gaps and unethical practices: Misleading advice, inappropriate sureties, and inconsistent bail practices exacerbate delays and undermine fairness.

• Infrastructure and resource constraints: Overcrowded facilities, insufficient transport, and underfunded correctional services hinder timely access to justice.

• Strained professional relationships: An “us vs. them” mindset between lawyers and judges sometimes hampers collaboration and effective justice delivery.

Pathways for Reform

Creating a people-centred justice system requires a holistic approach.

• Strengthen multi-sector collaboration across courts, correctional services, police, legal bodies, and oversight agencies.

• Enhance proactive legal representation by encouraging lawyers to defend clients’ rights diligently and pursue pro bono opportunities, particularly for indigent defendants.

• Build capacity and professional integrity through targeted training for lawyers and judges, especially at lower court levels.

• Improve accountability and transparency via regular reporting, fair application of laws, and stronger oversight mechanisms.

• Address infrastructural gaps by providing correctional services with adequate resources and logistical support for court access.

• Ensure fair and accessible pre-trial processes, including reforming restrictive bail practices and creating incentives for timely legal aid.

These measures shift the system from punitive approaches toward rehabilitation, reintegration, and restorative justice, reducing crime while preserving human dignity.

From Punishment to Rehabilitation

A people-centred system focuses on preparing offenders for reintegration rather than simply punishing them. Core strategies include:

• Vocational and skills training inside correctional centres.

• Mental health and psycho-social support for traumatised inmates.

• Halfway homes and reintegration programmes to aid ex-offenders’ transition.

• Community-based conflict resolution and restorative justice mechanisms.

By linking these interventions directly to human rights, the system bridges the gap between legal principles and everyday experiences, making justice tangible, attainable, and meaningful for all.

The Future of Justice in Nigeria

A people-centred justice system is not lenient on crime. It asks how we can protect society while protecting human dignity.

For Nigeria, adopting this approach is essential. It will reduce overcrowding in prisons, strengthen public trust, enhance community resilience, and uphold fundamental human rights, reminding all that these rights are not abstract ideals but the foundation of daily life.

Justice must extend beyond courtrooms. It must embody fairness, dignity, and shared humanity. And that journey begins now.