The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Wednesday, expressed concern about the proposal by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) for the death penalty on those involved in the sale of counterfeit drugs.
Speaking during the presentation of the February edition of the Commission’s monthly human rights situation dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN said the death penalty proposal by NAFDAC continues to raise concerns regarding the balance between punishment and human rights.
The month of February, Ojukwu noted also witnessed the enactment of several laws with significant human rights implications.
“Among them, we saw the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law 2025, the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, and the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025.
“These laws promote severe penalties, including the death penalty, for individuals involved in cultism, and kidnapping, particularly those linked to ritualistic activities.
“While we understand the sentiments and the need for strong measures against such heinous acts, it is crucial to ensure that the rights of the accused are upheld, and that justice is administered in a manner consistent with international human rights standards”, the NHRC boss stated.
He said human rights are not a luxury or a privilege, but a basic entitlement for all people and that, the Commission will ensure that every individual in Nigeria can live with dignity, freedom, and equality.
The NHRC boss disclosed that the Commission received a total of 205,364 complaints in the month of February 2025, adding that, the figure underscores the ongoing challenges in securing human rights for all Nigerians.
The Commission expressed concern over the troubling trends in the violations of economic, social, and cultural rights, which Ojukwu said, are fundamental to human dignity.
According to Ojukwu, access to basic necessities such as food, housing, healthcare, and education remains a challenge for too many and that urgent steps must be take to address the disparities and work toward policies that ensure equitable access for all Nigerians.
Presenting the NHRC’s February 2025 human rights dashboard report, the Human Rights Adviser to the NHRC Executive Secretary, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna said, while the country continues to grapple with mass killings, abductions, and other violent crimes, the growing trend of prescribing capital punishment as a solution is troubling.
According to the report, February saw a surge in human rights violations, with 191 killings, 144 kidnappings, 1,493 cases of child abandonment and 341 cases of rape recorded.
He said, cases of suicide and cultism also rose in the month of February, while law enforcement-related complaints remained the highest category of grievances received.
He also called for reforms to prevent extrajudicial killings, protect women’s rights—particularly in cases of spouse abandonment, which topped the complaints list at 6,954 cases—and improve overall human rights protections in the country.
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