NHRC Calls for Execution Moratorium Amid Death Row Crisis

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the federal government of Nigeria to declare an official moratorium on executions and for state governors to commute eligible death sentences to life imprisonment. This appeal comes amid concerns that more than 3,000 inmates are currently on death row in Nigeria.

Chief Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, made this call during the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against the Death Penalty in Abuja. He noted that Nigeria has not carried out a state execution for nearly ten years, which aligns with international standards for a de facto moratorium.

Ojukwu emphasized the need for the federal government to formalize the suspension of executions and for state governors to utilize their constitutional prerogative of mercy. He also advocated for a review of laws that mandate death sentences, arguing that judges should consider mitigating circumstances.

The NHRC outlined three immediate policy measures: an official moratorium on executions, commutation of eligible death sentences, and a comprehensive review of mandatory capital punishment laws.