Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Thursday vowed to accelerate the ratification and domestication of international humanitarian law treaties, to boost the Nigeria’s legal protections for vulnerable citizens amid ongoing insecurity and displacement.
Speaking at the High Level International Humanitarian Law Dialogue 2026 in Abuja organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Committee for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties, Kalu emphasized the theme “Complementarity: Threshold and Outcomes.”
He described it as a call to bridge international obligations with domestic action.
“Complementarity, in its truest sense, maintains that no single institution can deliver justice or humanitarian protection in isolation,” Kalu said.
“It is the interplay between international obligations and domestic enforcement; policy formulation and legislative action; institutions and the people they serve.”
Deputy Speaker Kalu praised the event’s multi-agency collaboration — involving justice, defense, interior, finance, health, and emergency management officials — as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to humanitarian principles.
NewsQuest reports that Nigeria faces persistent challenges, including internal security threats, mass displacement, and disaster response.
“Nigeria, like many nations, continues to confront complex humanitarian realities ranging from internal security challenges to displacement and disaster response,” he said.
“In these contexts, international humanitarian law is not an abstract concept; it is a living framework designed to protect the most vulnerable among us — civilians, women, children, and those caught in the crossfires of conflict.”
The Deputy Speaker assured attendees that the House would prioritize not just ratification but full implementation of such treaties, including those tied to the Geneva Conventions.
“We will not only facilitate their domestication but also strengthen our oversight mechanisms to ensure effective implementation,” he said.
