By Ebere Agozie
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) says a national strategy is essential to effectively close the gap for people centred-justice.
Mr Jelmer Brouwer, Data Analyst and Reporting Officer at HiiL said this at the launch of the Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) 2024 report on Thursday in Abuja.
Brouwer said that resolving legal disputes efficiently requires a people-centred approach to justice that involves reforming the justice system to prioritize the legal and justice needs of individuals.
“This will ensure equal access to justice services and legal information for all.
“By focusing on real world legal experiences and generating fair outcomes, people-centred justice will contribute to societal well-being, inclusive growth, and democratic governance.
“It will also support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG) which aims for peaceful and inclusive societies with equal access to justice, and addresses urgent justice needs through innovative transformations.
He added that the JNS 2024 report seeks to build and deliver fresh insights and data to inform policymakers, legal practitioners, and the public on how to create more accessible and equitable justice systems
“This pivotal update provides an in-depth analysis of the most pressing justice issues Nigerians face today.
“Key findings from the JNS 2024 report showed that access to justice remains a significant issue in Nigeria, with challenges such as land disputes, neighbor conflicts, and domestic violence being the most prevalent.
“Over half of those who reported no legal problems in 2023 faced new issues in 2024, highlighting the country’s pervasive legal challenges.
“While approximately 55 per cent of the problems identified in the initial study were fully or partially resolved by 2024; many unresolved issues continue to profoundly impact people’s lives, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable, people-centred justice solutions’’.
Ijeoma Nwafor, Country Representative of HiiL added that in order to close the justice gap and help people move on with their lives, innovative approaches outside the formal justice system are therefore crucial.
“Durable, people-centred solutions are needed as Nigerians experiencing legal problems have a strong desire to resolve them in order to be able to move on with their lives.
“This is clear from the overwhelming majority of people who take one, two or more actions to resolve their most serious legal problems.
“The third most common outcome is the improvement or repair of relationships, and the less common outcomes are about preventing the problem from happening again and feeling more safe and secure.
She said that since 2018, HiiL has been actively engaged in Nigeria, working to understand and address the justice needs of its people.
“Our mission is to bring justice closer to the population by identifying the most common legal challenges and the barriers that prevent effective solution’’.