‘Lack of access to justice cause of farmer-herder clashes’
By Augustine Okezie, Katsina Lack of access to justice has been attributed to the incessant farmer-herder clashes in Katsina. Country representative of the Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Hague,
By Augustine Okezie, Katsina
Lack of access to justice has been attributed to the incessant farmer-herder clashes in Katsina.
Country representative of the Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Hague, Netherlands, Ijeoma Nwafor, made the observation in Katsina during the launch of justice sector guidelines in the state.
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He said the situation reflects a wider global issue affecting billions of people, thereby underscoring the urgent need reforms in the sector, to ensure reduction in the clashes and boost justice delivery
According to her, barriers such as distance to courts, high legal costs, and complex procedures have made it difficult for many Nigerians, especially those in rural areas to seek justice.
“Justice should be people-centred and easy to access. Most people do not go to court because the system is not user-friendly. They simply want their grievances heard and resolved without unnecessary complications,” she said.
She warned that the lack of accessible justice systems has contributed to rising frustration among citizens, sometimes resulting in unlawful actions, including mob justice.
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Nwafor noted that HiiL is working to bridge the gap by promoting solutions that integrate informal and formal justice systems, particularly by recognising the role of traditional and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
She explained that the new guidelines were developed through extensive research and consultations with key stakeholders, including farmers, herders, traditional rulers, law enforcement agencies, and legal practitioners.
The initiative, she said, aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.3, which seeks to ensure equal access to justice for all.
Nwafor expressed optimism that the guidelines would help simplify justice processes, improve communication among stakeholders, and, ultimately, expand access to justice for millions of Nigerians.
The Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Fadila Muhammad Dikko, who was represented by the Director Citizens’ Right of the ministry, A. L Buhari, said the initiative aligns with the reform agenda of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, particularly in strengthening alternative dispute resolution and promoting people-centre justice.
The launch of the new guidelines under the SPRING Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), targeted farmer, herder conflicts across Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, and Benue states.
About 2,400 people were trained across the three states, including 600 in Katsina, to strengthen community-based mediation and dispute resolution.
