NAS Calls for Renewed Commitment to Rights Protection in Nigeria

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Olympus Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has called for a renewed commitment to rights protection in the country.

The association made the call during a live radio programme held to marked Human Rights Day 2025, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event featured leading legal practitioners who examined the historical foundations of human rights, assessed Nigeria’s current performance, and outlined urgent reforms needed to strengthen rights protection across the country.

During the programme, a legal practitioner, Dr. Marshall Jumbo noted the global significance of Human Rights Day, commemorated every December 10th in honour of the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

He explained that “the UDHR emerged in response to the atrocities of World War II including the holocaust and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a universal safeguard against future abuses.”

Jumbo highlighted its 30 articles covering core freedoms such as expression, association, and child protection, stressing that even in modern conflicts, civilian rights must remain protected.

Another panellist, Nnamdi Amadi-Wali traced the evolution of human rights from the chaotic “state of nature” to the social contract, noting that despite these philosophical advances, many rights remain unrealised in Nigeria due to weak institutions and poor governance.

The panellists agreed that human rights are inalienable, indivisible, and universal, and that no right should be treated as inferior or expendable.

On the current state of human rights protection in Nigeria, Dominic IChukwu noted that Nigeria continues to rank poorly on global indices, saying that “the World Justice Project places the Nigeria as 120th of 142 countries, while Reporters Without Borders ranks Nigeria 122nd of 180 countries.”

He said “Despite constitutional guarantees, particularly in Sections 36 to 43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), rights such as fair hearing, due process, and freedom of speech are routinely violated.”

IChukwu stressed that fundamental rights to education, life, movement, and association are “non-negotiable,” yet remain undermined by corruption and a lack of political will.

Institutional failures in the police, judiciary, and governance systems were identified as major contributors to arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and widespread abuse. Judicial delays and overloaded courts further weaken accountability.

Speakers highlighted systemic corruption and declining moral values as major obstacles to human rights protection.

They noted the erosion of conscience, discipline, and ethical standards in public life, and called for renewed investment in civic and moral education.

The judiciary’s limited independence, particularly executive influence over judicial appointments, was cited as a barrier to justice. Unequal application of the law, where the influential evade accountability, continues to deepen public distrust.

Noting the Rivers State experience, the panellists described it as a microcosm of wider national challenges. “Residents continue to report arbitrary arrests and detentions, particularly in stations like Forces Avenue Police Station. Weak enforcement mechanisms and overstretched courts contribute to delayed justice and fear among citizens.”

Speakers recommended establishing human rights desks at community levels to improve access to information, monitoring, and accountability. Community and religious institutions were encouraged to take more active roles in promoting ethical conduct and respect for human dignity.

They, however, recommended strengthening human rights protection, encouraging citizens to assert their rights through lawful channels, including the courts.

They warned that corruption, injustice, and lawlessness will continue to undermine Nigeria’s development unless human rights protection becomes a national priority.