As the world mark Nelson Mandela International Day, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, has called for urgent and holistic reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, citing widespread systemic bias and deplorable detention conditions.
In a statement signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, and issued ahead of the commemoration, Dr. Ojukwu urged stakeholders to reflect on Mandela’s enduring values of justice, dignity, equality, and compassion. He noted that the late South African leader’s legacy remains a powerful reminder of the importance of promoting and protecting human rights, particularly within Nigeria’s correctional institutions.
He decried the state of correctional centers in the country, describing them as overcrowded, underfunded, and lacking in basic sanitation and healthcare conditions he said reflected deeper failures in infrastructure, justice, and humanity.
Ojukwu further lamented that thousands of Nigerians continue to be held in prolonged pre-trial detention due to poverty and lack of access to legal representation, while wealthier individuals enjoy greater access to legal defense and bail, thereby reinforcing systemic inequality.
He called on the Nigerian government, judicial authorities, the private sector, and civil society to work collectively towards overhauling the system through measures such as improving conditions in correctional centers, ensuring timely trials, and upholding the rights and dignity of inmates. He also emphasized the importance of addressing root causes of incarceration, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to justice.
The NHRC statement concluded by underscoring the need for society to emulate Mandela’s commitment to human dignity and justice for all, especially the vulnerable.
Nelson Mandela International Day is observed globally on July 18 in honor of the late icon’s legacy of selfless service and unwavering advocacy for human rights.
