Nigeria urges India to protect Nigerians in custodial centres as both countries strengthen human rights cooperation through a new agreement

The Federal Government has urged India to ensure the humane treatment and protection of Nigerians held in custodial centres across the country, raising concerns about their welfare, dignity and fundamental human rights.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal during a meeting with a joint delegation of the National Human Rights Commissions of Nigeria and India at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the minister called on the Indian government to pay appropriate attention to the conditions of Nigerians in detention facilities and ensure their rights were respected.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the protection of vulnerable people and access to justice should remain central to the growing human rights partnership between both countries.

She described the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigerian and Indian National Human Rights Commissions as a timely step towards converting their longstanding diplomatic relations into practical institutional cooperation.

“The MoU on Cooperation between the NHRCs is a timely initiative for the translation of the longstanding Nigeria-India relations into practical institutional cooperation on the promotion of human rights,” she said.

The minister stressed the need to improve access to justice, strengthen complaint-handling mechanisms and protect people in vulnerable circumstances, particularly by ensuring fair access to essential support and services.

She added that Nigeria and India could contribute to a more inclusive international human rights system through cooperation as members of the Global South.

The agreement between the two commissions is expected to facilitate institutional cooperation, technical exchanges and the sharing of best practices in human rights protection.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen engagement with India and other international partners on human rights diplomacy and the strengthening of national and international human rights institutions.

She thanked United Nations member states for supporting Nigeria’s election to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2028 term.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to its obligations under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guided by objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international engagement.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Chief Anthony Ojukwu, described the agreement as an important framework for improving cooperation and technical exchanges between the two institutions.

He said areas of collaboration would include more effective complaint-management systems, improved human rights compliance in security sector governance and joint research on international law, human rights implementation and emerging issues.

Ojukwu also highlighted the importance of working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to incorporate international human rights standards into Nigeria’s treaty obligations and diplomatic engagements.

In his remarks, the Chairperson of India’s National Human Rights Commission, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, noted the longstanding historical and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and India.

He identified similarities between both countries, including their large populations, ethnic and religious diversity, cultural heritage and democratic aspirations.

Ramasubramanian said the agreement would support practical cooperation, institutional learning and capacity development through the exchange of experiences and best practices.

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The delegation was jointly led by Ojukwu and Ramasubramanian during the courtesy visit to the foreign affairs minister in Abuja.