Nigeria

In 2024, Nigeria continued to face grave security challenges, particularly in the North West and North Central regions, where mass killings, abductions and other violent crimes were perpetrated by terrorist groups and non-state armed actors. The Terrorism Index for Nigeria saw a slight increase compared to the previous year, reflecting the deepening insecurity. The rule of law remained severely undermined, and human rights protections continued to erode, contributing to a climate of fear, instability and weakened trust in state institutions. Economic pressures further exacerbated inequalities, while the justice system and security sector remained overburdened by the scale of criminality and rights violations.

To strengthen institutional responses and promote practices that uphold the rule of law and human rights, UNDP partnered with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to enhance national capacity for monitoring, reporting and addressing human rights violations. With financial and technical support from the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development, UNDP provided targeted support to build the capacity of NHRC staff at the state level, developed and operationalized the Human Rights Observatory Dashboard, and facilitated inclusive dialogue among key justice and human rights stakeholders.

Through the Tripartite Partnership to Support National Human Rights Institutions, the Human Rights Observatory Dashboard, launched in January 2024, processed over 324,000 complaints nationwide, enabling the identification of systemic abuse patterns and prompting reforms in affected states. In parallel, NHRC adjudicated 210 human rights cases across six states using its quasi-judicial powers, securing redress for victims and reinforcing state-level accountability mechanisms.

Public awareness efforts on business and human rights reached over 63,000 people across six states through 63 targeted town hall sessions and training workshops. These campaigns were conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Bar Association, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NHRC and the Kenya Bar Association, and aimed to advance the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Women comprised 40 percent of participants, ensuring gender-balanced engagement in dialogues on corporate accountability and access to justice. As a result of the campaigns, NHRC recorded a 35 percent increase in reports of alleged business-related human rights violations, reflecting improved citizen trust in its mechanisms. To further drive state-level accountability, UNDP supported the establishment of State Working Groups on Business and Human Rights in Borno and Katsina.

UNDP also supported the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in conducting a nationwide field survey across all 37 police commands, including the Federal Capital Territory, to inform the country’s first evidence-based National Policing Plan (NPP). The survey gathered over 3,000 data sets on crime trends, hotspots and resource availability. To ensure data quality and enhance institutional learning, 25 police officers were trained on data collection and analysis. These efforts strengthened NPF’s ability to make strategic policing decisions, contributing to better security planning nationwide.

Gender inclusion and police capacity-building were also advanced through a mentoring initiative for 29 senior women police officers, conducted in collaboration with the NPF Department of Training and Development. In total, 628 police personnel, including 110 women, received training in detective work, intelligence analysis, gender-sensitive policing and the management of gender-based violence cases. UNDP also provided mobile health clinics to 10 police training schools across nine states, benefiting over 30,000 police recruits and 20,000 community members annually by improving access to healthcare and community engagement.