Amnesty International Urges National Assembly To Strengthen Human Rights Protection

Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the National Assembly to take urgent legislative steps to safeguard and promote human rights in the country, amid increasing concerns about repression, insecurity, and shrinking civic space.

Speaking during the organisation’s first-ever membership Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), expressed deep concern over the worsening state of human rights and ongoing abuses across Nigeria.

“Freedom of expression remains under threat. Journalists, human rights defenders, and digital activists are regularly harassed, intimidated, and arbitrarily detained simply for exercising their right to speak out. The right to peaceful assembly is also under sustained attack,” Rafsanjani stated.

He emphasised that while civil society groups continue to push for reforms, the responsibility lies with the National Assembly to provide a strong legislative framework to protect citizens’ rights and close existing gaps in Nigeria’s human rights infrastructure.

“We call on the National Assembly to provide a legislative framework that strengthens human rights protections and addresses existing gaps,” he said.

Rafsanjani also revealed plans for increased collaboration with Amnesty International Ghana and other branches across West Africa to boost regional advocacy, particularly through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“This historic AGM provides a platform for reflection, dialogue, and forward-looking action. We are committed to ensuring our work is grounded in the realities of Nigeria’s human rights landscape while inspiring change across the region,” he added.

In his remarks, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, called on the government to fulfil its constitutional obligation of protecting the rights and dignity of citizens.

“What we expect from the government is simple: respect the Constitution, respect Nigerian and international laws, and protect human rights. It is not our job to protect human rights, that duty lies with the government. But we will continue to hold them accountable,” Sanusi said.

He criticised the government’s human rights record, comparing it with past administrations. “We still see police brutality, unlawful killings, and rising insecurity. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Nigerians have lost their lives in the past one to two years. Things are not getting better,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Sanusi said the organisation remains hopeful that change is possible if those in power act responsibly and uphold the rule of law.

“We remain on the side of hope. We believe things can and must improve, but only if those in power are willing to act responsibly and uphold the rule of law,” he concluded.