Country representative of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Netherlands, Ijeoma Nwafor, has decried the limited access to justice in many communities, linking it to the recurring clashes between farmers and herders in Katsina State.
Speaking at the unveiling of new justice sector guidelines in Katsina, Nwafor stressed that many citizens, particularly those in rural areas, are unable to seek redress due to obstacles such as long distances to courts, expensive legal services, and complicated procedures. She noted that the situation is not unique to Nigeria but reflects a global challenge affecting billions of people.
According to her, most individuals simply want their complaints heard and resolved quickly, but the formal system often discourages them. She warned that when people feel excluded from justice processes, frustration can build and sometimes lead to unlawful actions, including mob responses.
Nwafor explained that HiiL is working to close this gap by encouraging solutions that combine formal structures with traditional and community-based methods of resolving disputes. She added that the newly introduced guidelines were shaped by wide consultations with farmers, herders, traditional leaders, security agencies, and legal professionals.
She further stated that the initiative supports the goals of the United Nations under Sustainable Development Goal 16.3, which promotes equal access to justice. She expressed confidence that the guidelines would make justice processes simpler, improve dialogue among affected groups, and extend access to more Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Fadila Muhammad Dikko, represented by the Director of Citizens Rights, A. L Buhari, said the effort is in line with the reform drive of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. He noted that the administration is focused on strengthening alternative dispute resolution and making justice more responsive to the needs of the people.
The programme, implemented under the SPRING initiative and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, targets conflict prone states such as Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue. About 2400 participants have so far been trained, including 600 in Katsina, with the aim of improving mediation skills and strengthening community level dispute resolution.
