Nigeria’s drive to reform its justice system has received a fresh boost with the formalisation of a partnership between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), aimed at entrenching people-centred justice across the country’s 36 states.
The partnership was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja, marking a transition from years of informal engagement to a structured, long-term collaboration focused on delivering measurable outcomes for citizens.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of the NGF, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, described the agreement as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s justice reform journey.
He said, “The MoU represents a shift from dialogue to coordinated action, anchored on evidence, innovation and responsiveness to the real justice needs of Nigerians.”
According to Dr Shittu, the relationship between the NGF and HiiL predates the MoU, having evolved through sustained engagement on justice reform initiatives.
He highlighted the Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Nigeria 2023 Report as a defining achievement of the collaboration, noting that it has become a critical tool for understanding how citizens experience justice and where systemic gaps remain.
“The report has equipped policymakers, practitioners and justice sector stakeholders with credible data to move beyond assumptions and design reforms that respond more directly to the needs of the people,” he said.
Dr Shittu explained that the newly signed MoU provides a formal framework for collaboration, signalling a shared commitment to justice that is accessible, affordable, fair and responsive particularly at the subnational level, where most justice challenges are experienced.
He emphasised that the agreement is not merely symbolic but intended as a platform for experimentation, learning and impact, stressing that the partnership is built on mutual respect, recognition of institutional strengths and a common resolve to improve access to justice through innovation and evidence-based approaches.
“This is a commitment to action, learning, innovation and measurable impact across Nigeria’s justice landscape,” he said.
Dr Shittu noted that Nigeria’s governors, through the NGF, play a strategic role in shaping subnational policy priorities.
Through the partnership with HiiL, State governments are being positioned as the frontline of justice delivery and as testing grounds for people-centred justice models tailored to local realities.
The collaboration, he added, is expected to support reforms that strengthen institutions while ensuring that justice systems reflect how people actually experience legal problems ranging from land and family disputes to commercial conflicts and access to basic services.
Acknowledging HiiL’s technical expertise and global perspective, Dr Shittu said its sustained engagement has enriched national and subnational conversations on justice reform and expressed confidence that the partnership would translate research insights into practical solutions that improve efficiency, inclusion and public trust in justice delivery.
According to him, the MoU aligns HiiL’s evidence-based approach with the institutional reach of state governments, creating opportunities to scale reforms across the federation.
“Under the agreement, both parties have committed to working in good faith to advance access to justice through data-driven interventions, innovation and collaboration.”
While specific initiatives will be developed over time, the MoU establishes a broad framework for sustained engagement and reform Dr Shittu added that the NGF looks forward to a partnership that delivers tangible benefits to communities, strengthens justice institutions and redefines justice delivery as a public service shaped by the real needs of the people it is meant to serve.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with long-standing challenges related to access to justice, cost, distance and institutional trust, the NGF–HiiL partnership signals a deliberate shift towards solutions that place citizens at the centre of reform.