The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has assured that the National Assembly will prioritise the ratification and domestication of international humanitarian law (IHL) treaties to strengthen the protection of vulnerable populations in Nigeria.
Kalu gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the High-Level IHL Dialogue 2026, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the National Committee for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties in Nigeria. The event was themed “Complementarity: Threshold and Outcomes.”
He noted that the theme underscored the urgency of aligning Nigeria’s legal commitments with practical realities and measurable outcomes, stressing that no single institution can deliver justice or humanitarian protection in isolation.
According to him, complementarity reflects the synergy between international obligations and domestic enforcement, as well as the link between policy formulation and legislative action.
Kalu commended the multi-sectoral collaboration among key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including justice, defence, interior, finance, health, and emergency management, describing it as a demonstration of national resolve to uphold humanitarian principles.
Highlighting Nigeria’s current challenges, he said the country continues to grapple with complex humanitarian situations such as internal security threats, displacement, and disaster response, making IHL frameworks critical to safeguarding civilians, especially women and children.
“The House of Representatives is undeterred in its commitment to ensuring that all treaties ratified by Nigeria, particularly those relating to International Humanitarian Law, are accorded the legislative priority they deserve,” he said.
He further pledged that the 10th National Assembly would expedite consideration of bills aimed at domesticating relevant treaties, while strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.
Kalu also emphasised the importance of collaboration between the legislature and the executive to fully integrate principles of the Geneva Conventions into Nigeria’s legal and operational systems.
The Deputy Speaker commended members of the national IHL committee for their coordination and dedication, noting that their efforts are helping to enhance compliance and build a more resilient and humane society.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and take decisive actions that would translate policy discussions into tangible protection for citizens.
“The true measure of any legal system is not in the laws it enacts, but in the lives it protects,” Kalu said.
