Nigeria's 36 States Partner on Justice for All

Getting justice in Nigeria is about to get easier for millions of people who've been priced out or shut out of the legal system.

The Nigeria Governors Forum, representing all 36 state governors, just signed a partnership with the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law to rebuild justice systems around what citizens actually need. The agreement marks a shift from talk to action after years of research showed how Nigerians really experience legal problems.

Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, who leads the governors' forum, explained that previous data revealed critical gaps in how people access justice. Many Nigerians face costly barriers when dealing with land disputes, family issues, or commercial problems that should have straightforward solutions.

The new partnership puts state governments at the center of testing people-focused justice models. Since most legal challenges happen at the local level, governors can experiment with solutions tailored to their communities' specific needs.

What makes this different is the focus on outcomes over procedures. The Hague Institute brings global expertise in both formal courts and informal community-based justice pathways. Combined with the governors' reach across Nigeria, the partnership creates a testing ground for reforms that can spread nationwide.

The collaboration builds on the 2023 Justice Needs and Satisfaction Report, which gave Nigerian policymakers real data instead of assumptions about what citizens need. That evidence showed the justice system wasn't working for ordinary people struggling with distance, cost, and institutional trust issues.

The Ripple Effect

When justice becomes accessible, entire communities transform. Families can settle disputes without losing their savings. Small business owners can resolve conflicts without shutting down. Farmers can protect their land rights without traveling hundreds of miles or waiting years.

State governments acting as laboratories means successful models can be adapted quickly across different regions. A solution that works in Lagos might be tweaked for rural communities in Sokoto, spreading effective justice reforms faster than top-down federal mandates.

The partnership also signals to international organizations that Nigeria is serious about citizen-focused governance. That credibility can unlock additional technical support and resources for states leading the way.

Dr. Shittu expressed confidence the collaboration would strengthen justice institutions while delivering measurable results for communities. The agreement includes commitments to data-driven innovation and good faith cooperation as specific initiatives roll out.

For millions of Nigerians who've watched justice remain just out of reach, this partnership represents hope that the system might finally start working for them instead of around them.