NHRC Advocates Justice-Centered Approach for Africa

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has proposed a shift from military-centric responses to a holistic, justice-driven model to address insecurity and economic instability in Africa. This call was made by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, during the 2026 African Bar Association Conference in Cape Verde.

The paper presented, titled “Legal Mechanisms to Ensure Access to Justice in Regions Affected by Security Threats,” uses the North-East insurgency and the Benue farmer-herder crisis as case studies. It identifies gaps such as non-justiciable socio-economic rights under Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and restrictive access to the African Court.

NHRC data revealed significant issues, including 530 cases of denial of food and shelter and 1,850 internally displaced persons in Benue. The Commission's interventions included monitoring terrorism trials and a Transitional Justice Programme in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.

The proposed four-pillar model includes enforceable socio-economic rights and specialized mobile Conflict Resolution Courts, among other recommendations.