Get Guardian on GoogleThe National Human Rights Commissions of Nigeria and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional cooperation, exchange expertise and improve human rights protection in both countries.
The National Human Rights Commission of India, led by the Honourable Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, who spoke at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, described the agreement as a historic development, saying it would deepen an existing relationship between the two countries and strengthen South-South cooperation.
“Today, the National Human Rights Institutions of the countries of Nigeria and India have actually scripted history by signing this first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding,” He said.
He commended the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Tony Ojukwu, for his efforts in making the agreement possible.
The Indian delegation leader noted that Nigeria and India shared historical and demographic similarities, including religious, linguistic and ethnic diversity, as well as experiences of colonial rule.
He recalled that India established a liaison office in Nigeria in 1958, two years before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, while India became independent in 1947.
According to him, the relationship between the two human rights institutions has grown through Nigeria’s participation in India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which provides capacity-building opportunities for officials from different countries.
He disclosed that Nigerian NHRC officials had participated in the programme twice in recent years, describing their responses to invitations as evidence of their commitment to international cooperation and institutional development.
The Indian commission chairperson said the MoU would provide opportunities for both institutions to exchange best practices, share professional experience and develop approaches suited to their respective national circumstances.
He said the agreement also carried wider significance for South-South cooperation, noting that countries in the Global South had experiences arising from their historical, social, economic and developmental circumstances that could enrich international human rights practice.
“These experiences offer valuable lessons for the international human rights community,” she said.
He expressed confidence that the agreement would promote the ideals of human dignity, equality, justice and freedom beyond formal declarations.
Earlier, Ojukwu said the agreement would provide a framework for cooperation in exchanging expertise and best practices, capacity building, joint research and publications, as well as engagement on regional and international human rights issues.
He said the partnership would help Nigeria’s commission deepen its institutional capacity, expand its knowledge base and strengthen its contribution to the global human rights community.
The signing took place during the presentation of the commission’s October 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja.
Ojukwu disclosed that the commission received 384,196 complaints across its 38 locations nationwide in October, representing an increase of more than 45,000 complaints, or 14 per cent, compared with September.
He said complaints relating to freedom from discrimination accounted for the largest thematic category, with 217,243 cases, including 184,624 complaints concerning the protection of internally displaced persons.
The NHRC boss said the figures highlighted the scale of protection challenges confronting displaced populations and the need to ensure that displacement did not deprive individuals and families of their dignity, security and access to basic rights.
He also expressed concern over continuing insecurity, including killings, armed attacks and abductions in parts of Taraba, Borno, Zamfara, Niger and Plateau states.
Ojukwu further raised concerns about sexual and gender-based violence, alleged abuses by security personnel, restrictions on civic space and violations of freedom of expression.
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities, rescue abducted persons and ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice.
The NHRC executive secretary also called on political actors to exercise restraint ahead of the January elections, warning against electoral violence, political intolerance and hateful speeches.
He urged relevant authorities to prosecute persons responsible for inciting hateful and divisive speeches.
