Nigeria has launched a new initiative to strengthen criminal justice delivery and advance women’s role in peacebuilding, with support from the Norwegian Government and Cleen Foundation.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Lateef Fagbemi, said the project seeks to expand the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) across 12 states while advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in five. Represented by David Emmanuel of the Ministry of Justice, Fagbemi emphasised that justice must be “fair, gender neutral, and applied without bias” to uphold the rule of law and protect human dignity.
He noted that ACJA had already proven transformative at the federal level, and its broader implementation would deepen human rights protections, enhance accountability, and reduce unlawful detention. On the WPS agenda, he underlined the importance of recognising women’s contributions to conflict resolution and inclusive governance.
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, highlighted the dangers of gender bias, urging judicial officers to resist stereotypes and uphold equity and impartiality.
Norwegian Ambassador Svein Baera, represented by Acting Chargé d’Affaires Michelle Hovi, commended the partnership, while Cleen Foundation’s Acting Executive Director, Peter Maduoma, said the project would improve access to justice, promote accountability, and expand women’s role in peace and security processes.
