By Ladi Gbegi
Justice Needs and Satisfaction Survey has revealed that only 52 percent of Nigerians facing legal challenges actively pursue redress, exposing significant barriers to access to justice across the country.
The findings were presented by Munachi Okoro, Head of Communications and Knowledge Management, at the 2024 Access to Justice (A2J) Parley in Abuja.
In the survey, Kaduna State was used as a case study, reflecting nationwide pattern of inequitable access to justice.
Highlighting the barriers, Okoro noted that financial constraints, lack of trust in the justice system and limited awareness of legal resources prevent many Nigerians from addressing legal issues. “The fact that nearly half of Nigerians remain silent on their legal issues is concerning. We must address systemic challenges to ensure that justice is accessible to all,” he said.
Access to justice is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.3, which promotes equal access to justice for all. Despite Nigeria’s robust constitutional framework, Okoro stated that persistent challenges, including court delays, case congestion and limited legal representation, continue to erode public confidence.
Quoting the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who reported that 243,253 cases were pending in superior courts in the first quarter of 2024, comprising 199,747 civil cases and 43,506 criminal cases, Okoro said“This backlog disproportionately impacts marginalised populations—rural communities, women and persons with disabilities—who face systemic barriers to justice,”
He added that geographical inequities, with legal infrastructure concentrated in urban areas, further alienate rural Nigerians.
Okoro underscored the importance of partnerships between government bodies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and technology innovators in driving sustainable reforms. He emphasized that implementation remains a key challenge.
“The gap is often in enforcement, not policy. We must move from paper to practice by creating implementation roadmaps with clear timelines and accountability measures.”
He called for public awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians about their rights and empower them to use the justice system. “Justice reforms cannot be sustained without public buy-in. A justice system that does not serve everyone equally is a justice system that fails,” he added.
The parley also showcased success stories, particularly the adoption of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as virtual court hearings and online filing systems. However, experts emphasized the need to expand these tools to lower courts that serve the majority of Nigerians.
Recommendations from the event include streamlining case management systems to reduce prolonged pre-trial detentions, where 67 percent of correctional facility inmates are awaiting trial, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to ease the burden of courts, enhanced Legal Aid Services to improve access for vulnerable groups, particularly women and persons with disabilities.
The event, supported by US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, brought together stakeholders from the legal, technology and civil society sectors to deliberate on justice reforms in Nigeria.
The 2024 A2J Parley ended with a collective commitment to foster modern, accessible and equitable justice system in Nigeria.
Stakeholders pledged to embrace technology, prioritize inclusivity and strengthen collaboration to ensure that legal reforms serve all Nigerians, particularly the marginalized.
