Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, assured of the federal government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of all Nigerians.
Shettima spoke in Abuja at the 2026 high-level dialogue of the National Committee for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties in Nigeria (NCIHLIN). The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The vice president, who said that the Federal Government was taking a comprehensive approach in implementing national laws and international treaties, commended the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his leadership in pushing the country’s legal reforms.
Shettima described Fagbemi as a very brilliant, intelligent and upright man whose efforts have had a profound impact on advancing justice in the country.
He encouraged the dialogue to critically evaluate the ongoing conflicts fuelled by insurgency and to propose actionable solutions that could bring peace and stability to Nigeria.
Earlier, in his speech, Fagbemi highlighted the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to refine Nigeria’s justice system, ensuring that it meets both domestic and international standards.
He pointed to recent achievements, such as the domestication of key international humanitarian law (IHL) treaties and the enactment of significant legislative reforms like the Anti-Torture Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The AGF also announced that government was making substantial investments to improve the country’s correctional facilities, ensuring they meet minimum human rights standards and focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
The Chief Law Officer of the country added that Nigeria’s security forces are being equipped with the necessary training to adhere to the principles of IHL, particularly, the Geneva Conventions, to ensure they operate in line with global human rights standards.
The AGF said Nigeria’s ongoing cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) aims to strengthen the country’s justice system while supporting global peace and security.
Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Federation and also the Chairperson of NCIHLIN, reiterated the importance of IHL, especially in light of the rising disregard for civilian protection in global conflicts.
She stressed that Nigeria must continue to drive compliance with IHL both on the negotiation tables and on the frontlines, ensuring that the principles of international law are respected in all security operations.
Jeddy-Agba also discussed the pivotal role of NCIHLIN in translating global standards into domestic practices while outlining the Committee’s objectives to enhance the systematic application of IHL in Nigeria, particularly through the domestication of additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.