99.99% of Nigerians Lack Access to Justice — Legal Expert!

99.99% of Nigerians Lack Access to Justice — Legal Expert!

Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

At a recent gathering convened by legal practitioners and civil society actors, a senior legal expert asserted that nearly 99.99 per cent of Nigerians are effectively denied access to justice, underscoring the urgency of sweeping systemic reforms and enhanced collaboration for public interest litigation.

Key Claims & Reforms Urged

• The remark was made during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) panel session held in Lagos under the auspices of Spaces for Change and PILNet Africa.
• According to the expert, while justice is constitutionally guaranteed, the reality is that cost, delay, technical complexity, and resource constraints shut out the vast majority of citizens from meaningful recourse. – Panelists called for:
• Strengthening legal aid and pro bono frameworks,
• Institutional support for PIL as a tool for vulnerable groups,
• Capacity‑building among grassroots lawyers, and
• Adoption of technology (e.g. e‑courts, case management systems) to lower barriers.
• A representative from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies stressed that justice must be made tangible and accessible—not merely aspirational
• Supporting Data & Landscape
• The 2025 Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) report reveals that 90 per cent of Nigerians experienced at least one legal problem in the past four years. [1]
• Previous studies show 81 per cent of Nigerians report encountering legal issues over a one‑year span, yet many fail to access formal courts due to constraints. [2]
• Civil society and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have repeatedly called for judicial reforms to reduce case backlogs and enhance justice access at grassroots levels. [3]

Citations:

1. HiiL: www.hiil.org/news/justice-in-real-life-new-report-tracks-how-legal-problems-evolve-in-nigeria/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/01/issues-with-access-to-justice-in-nigeria-adegboruwa-san/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. allAfrica.com: allafrica.com/stories/202503120381.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan

editor

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.

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