Overview of Human Rights in Nigeria

Nigeria is a federal republic.  Recent elections were marred by political violence, fraud, and other serious irregularities. While the opposition challenged the election results, the Supreme Court upheld them.  Typically, Nigeria’s human rights record has been extremely poor and recent years have seen little change.

The government and security forces perpetrate most of the abuses committed in the nation. Arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as the use of excessive force and torture to apprehend suspects, are perpetrated by the police and security forces. Beatings of protestors, suspects, detainees and prisoners are other actions committed with impunity. Politically motivated and extrajudicial killings are done at the behest of the government. The judiciary is corrupt and externally influenced by the executive branch and other authorities. The government arbitrarily infringes upon citizens’ privacy rights and limits the freedoms of speech, press, religion, movement, and assembly.  Child abuse, child labor and child prostitution are all human rights abuses committed in Nigeria and the wider region of West Africa. 

Note: Since 1999, intercommunal violence along religious and ethnic lines has cost thousands of lives in Nigeria. Clashes in the Edo, Kwara, and Delta states have continued to occur throughout the year. The security forces are often absent when the violence -- including death -- occurs. Because of the well-known climate of impunity, the cycle of violence has continued and has exacerbated the already-poor human rights landscape in Nigeria.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

159th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.