NHRCh Rallies Stakeholders On National Action Plan To Strengthen Human Rights Protection
By Ebizimo Freeman, Yenagoa – The National Human Rights Commission has intensified efforts to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria with the convening of a Pre-Zonal Consultative Meeting on the National Action Plan (NAP) 2024–2028.
The high-level meeting brought together representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, security agencies, legal practitioners, women and youth groups, alongside other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for the effective implementation of the National Action Plan nationwide.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, represented by the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Commission, Dr. Eugene Baadon, described the consultative forum as a critical platform for fostering collaboration and ensuring a coordinated approach toward advancing human rights in the country.
Dr. Baadon stated that the engagement was aimed at helping stakeholders better understand their roles in implementing the National Action Plan, identifying gaps within the system, and strengthening partnerships between government agencies and civil society organizations.
He stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights require collective responsibility, noting that the success of the National Action Plan would depend largely on the commitment and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the NAP 2024–2028 serves as a strategic framework for addressing pressing human rights challenges while aligning Nigeria’s obligations with international human rights standards and best practices.
“The consultative process is vital because it creates an avenue for stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the implementation framework of the National Action Plan and build stronger synergy among institutions working within the human rights sector,” he said.
Dr. Baadon further reaffirmed the commitment of the NHRC to protecting the rights of all Nigerians regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or social status.
Also speaking, Lady Chinwe Ubani explained that the National Action Plan seeks to improve awareness and understanding of human rights principles and implementation strategies among stakeholders at national and state levels.
She noted that the plan would help identify gaps and opportunities through stakeholder contributions while establishing effective systems for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of activities under the framework.
Lady Ubani described the NAP as a comprehensive roadmap reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, justice, accountability, equality, and the rule of law.
She added that effective implementation of the action plan would help tackle issues such as gender-based violence, discrimination, unlawful detention, abuse of vulnerable persons, and violations of socio-economic rights.
Participants at the meeting commended the NHRC for organizing the consultation, describing it as timely amid growing concerns over human rights protection in the country.
They called for sustained advocacy, increased funding, institutional reforms, and stronger collaboration between government and civil society organizations to ensure the successful implementation of the National Action Plan.
Stakeholders also emphasized the need for continuous grassroots sensitization on human rights issues, noting that many citizens remain unaware of their rights and the available mechanisms for seeking redress.
They further urged security agencies and public institutions to uphold professionalism, accountability, and international human rights standards in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments from participants to work collectively toward the successful implementation of the National Action Plan 2024–2028 and the advancement of human rights protection across Nigeria.
