Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, Thursday, restated the federal government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of all Nigerians.
He spoke in Abuja at the 2026 high-level dialogue of the National Committee for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties in Nigeria (NCIHLIN).
At the event themed: “Complimentary Threshold and Outcomes,” Shettima stated that the federal government is determined to ensure that legal frameworks are put in place to address the nation’s current security challenges.
The vice president said the federal government is taking a comprehensive approach in implementing national laws and international treaties, adding that recent developments demand urgent attention and reform.
He said: “I want to encourage the dialogue to critically evaluate the ongoing conflicts fueled by insurgency and to propose actionable solutions that could bring peace and stability to Nigeria.”
The vice president also lauded the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his unwavering determination in pushing the country’s legal reforms.
He described Fagbemi as one of Nigeria’s finest legal minds, whose efforts have had a profound impact on advancing justice in the country.
“The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is an intelligent, brilliant and an upright man,” Shettima stated.
Giving a speech earlier, Fagbemi hinted participants on the federal government’s ongoing efforts to refine Nigeria’s justice system so it can meet both domestic and international standards.
Reeling out recent achievements, Fagbemi cited domestication of key International Humanitarian Law (IHL) treaties and the enactment of significant legislative reforms like the Anti-Torture Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
“This initiative stood as a cornerstone of nation’s broader reformative agenda,”
President Bola Tinubu’s administration, he said, is making substantial investments to improve the country’s correctional facilities so they can meet minimum human rights standards and focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
The chief law officer added that Nigeria’s security forces are being equipped with the necessary training to adhere to the principles of IHL, particularly, the Geneva Conventions, to ensure they operate in line with global human rights standards.