Amnesty International Nigeria has urged federal government to implement sweeping reforms aimed at protecting human rights and strengthening democratic accountability.
The board chairman of Amnesty International Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, made the call at the unveiling of the Amnesty International 2025 Annual Report titled,“The State of the World’s Human Rights” on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Rafsanjani, the report is a global analysis that focuses on issues that highlight some adverse trends at a global level, in Africa and Nigeria.
He said the report captured the realities faced by millions, stories of resilience, of injustice, abuse, and systemic failures that demand urgent attention,and remembrance that human rights are lived experiences that shape dignity, freedom, and opportunity.
“In Nigeria, the findings of this year’s report highlight persistent and emerging concerns, including: violations linked to insecurity and counter-terrorism operations, restrictions on civic space, unlawful detentions, gender-based violence, and challenges in access to justice.”
The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isah Sanusi, said the report painted a troubling picture of increasing human rights violations across continents, with Nigeria emerging as a country of serious concern.
” If people cannot live peacefully, then the most basic right ,the right to life is not guaranteed.”
He emphasised that the crisis is deeply tied to economic hardship, urging the government to rethink its approach to security.
“There is no way to successfully fight insecurity without addressing poverty. You cannot prioritize massive spending on weapons while millions face hunger and deprivation,” he said.
Sanusi called for a comprehensive strategy that includes improving living conditions, reducing poverty, and strengthening economic opportunities.
“From January to April this year, about 1,100 people have been abducted,” he said, citing a mass kidnapping in Borno State where over 400 women and children were taken and remain in captivity.
He criticised what he described as a culture of impunity, noting that perpetrators of violence are rarely brought to justice.
“The absence of accountability is fueling these crimes. The government must demonstrate that there are consequences for such actions,” he said.
Sanusi urged authorities to prioritise the protection of lives, ensure justice for victims, and safeguard democratic freedoms, including political participation and media independence.
