It is a huge pleasure for me to join you all in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the “Home of Solid Minerals,” on this important occasion of the Conference of the Network of Justice Sector Reform Teams (NJSRTs). I must begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to His Excellency, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi A. Sule, and his entire team, particularly my learned brother, the Honourable Attorney General of Nasarawa State, for his unwavering commitment and diligent follow-up at ensuring my presence at this event.

I am particularly delighted that this conference, which focuses on enhancing access to justice and improving the ease of doing business, is being hosted here in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State. This State continues to stand out across the federation as a shining example of forward-thinking governance, strategic innovation, and purposeful industrialisation. The State now hosts what is described as Nigeria’s largest lithium-processing plant, which has attracted global investment and contributes to national output and revenue. The Governor has leveraged on the state’s rich endowment of solid minerals with the signing of the Executive Order reforms on mining and solid minerals development, the state has also established a One-Stop Investment Centre complemented by a Multi-Door Courthouse to support alternative dispute resolution for business and investment-related conflicts. This initiative will not only attract investors but will ensure that commercial disputes are resolved efficiently, professionally, and without unnecessary delays. The deliberate efforts of the State Executive to integrate justice delivery with economic development, especially through robust legal and regulatory frameworks, demonstrate a clear understanding that a reliable justice system is fundamental to sustainable growth and a thriving business environment.

Permit me, therefore, to convey my deep and sincere appreciation to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, whose steadfast dedication to good governance and visionary leadership continues to propel the State forward. Under his guidance, Nasarawa has achieved impressive progress, not just in the solid minerals sector but also in the diversification of the economy through agro-industrial ventures, drawing major firms into agribusiness in the State. The administration’s deliberate, forward-looking, and well-coordinated efforts to harness the State’s resources have not only significantly enhanced internally generated revenue but are also contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s broader economic growth and national development. Thereby reducing reliance on federal allocation and offering a model of sub-national economic resilience and self-reliance which should be emulated by other sub-nationals.

I am no stranger to Nasarawa State. I have been coming here for court matters since the early 1990s, handling various cases in this state including the notable dispute on the State’s census and with the advent of the Fourth Republic, my involvement in election petition litigations in this State has further deepened my familiarity with it. These engagements have afforded me the opportunity to spend extended periods here within the judicial system.

I am therefore particularly elated by Your Excellency’s commitment to Justice Sector Reform, particularly in the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and the digitization of justice systems. The High Court complex was completed and furnished during Your Excellency’s administration and a number of additional High Courts and Magistrate Courts have also been created. There has been a clear push towards a technology-driven justice sector and we are particularly impressed by Your Excellency’s initiative to provide an efficient case management system, in the State and installation of v-sat for the Ministry of Justice.

Governor Sule has made substantial investments not only in judicial infrastructure but also in strengthening the institutional capacity of the Judiciary. Under his administration, additional lawyers were employed to enhance the work of the Ministry of Justice, while continuous capacity-building programmes were organized for magistrates, judges, police officers, and legal practitioners. The government also provided vehicles for magistrates and judges to support their operations. These efforts have produced measurable outcomes, evidenced by the increase in the number of cases resolved by the State Judiciary in the last legal year.

Another noble and innovative initiative of this administration in expanding and enhancing access to justice is the establishment of new and upgraded Ministry of Justice area offices across several local government areas —bringing justice closer to rural communities. I must also commend Nasarawa State for its prompt compliance with the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Autonomy. By respecting this landmark decision, the state has demonstrated exemplary obedience to the Constitution and set a national standard for lawful, accountable, and democratic governance at the grassroots level.

The commitment of Your Excellency’s administration to ideals that not only advance the administration of justice, but also positively impact the lives of citizens and peoples of the State, cannot go unnoticed. This administration has also taken humanitarian steps by granting amnesty to deserving inmates, thereby decongesting custodial centres while upholding fair-trial standards. These achievements deserve commendation, as they reflect a governance philosophy that aligns with our collective National Goals for the advancement of justice, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. I must particularly acknowledge His Excellency’s commitment to the decongestion of the custodial centres, as he has consistently engaged with me on this issue.

For us in the justice sector, you have shown remarkable dexterity by appointing one of the nation’s finest legal minds, Dr. Shuaibu Magaji Labaran, SAN, to serve in your administration. Without mincing words, Labaran Magaji is a global asset—an accomplished legal scholar and practitioner whose expertise has shaped terrorism litigation, human rights jurisprudence, and high-profile prosecutions across Nigeria.

Your Excellency, you have indeed succeeded in attracting  judiciary’s brightest assets to Nasarawa State with the appointment of the SSG and the Attorney-General, ensuring that their combined wealth of experience contributes meaningfully to development at the sub-national level.

The Network of Justice Sector Reform Teams was established by the Ministry in our quest for a more collaborative, efficient and effective implementation of justice norms and prioritization of the rule of law in Nigeria. The Teams are designed as the “think tanks” and the “engine rooms” of reform at the sub-national level, and your collaborative efforts remain indispensable to enhancing the administration of justice.

The theme chosen for this engagement—“Interoperability between Access to Justice and the Ease of doing Business“—is quite strategic and critical. The theme undoubtedly sits at the very core of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which is anchored on attracting investment, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to emphasize that there can be no meaningful economic progress without a robust, predictable, and efficient justice system. The “Ease of Doing Business” is not merely a matter of enhancing bureaucratic efficiency; it is fundamentally a critical factor in service delivery and justice administration. It includes institutional assurances which we give to a small business owner in Lafia, a tech entrepreneur in Lagos, and an international investor in London, that their rights will be protected, their contracts will be enforced, and their disputes will be resolved fairly and expeditiously.

For too long, our Justice System has been perceived as a labyrinth—slow, complex, and inaccessible to the average citizen and business. This perception deters investors, increases the cost of business and stifles innovation.  In addition, we have seen the effects of a stifled justice system, which has resulted in ever escalating number of awaiting trial inmates as well as prolonged resolution of domestic disputes.

In this regard, the Nasarawa State Government has again led the charge through its pursuit of specialized and rights-based justice, particularly in the inauguration of the Family Court system, making Nasarawa one of the first states in Nigeria to fully implement such a court structure. The family Court creditably aligns the State’s judiciary with the provisions of its Child Rights Law. Furthermore, the State has taken active steps to address the pervasive issue of prison congestion. I am aware that the Chief Judge has, on several occasions, exercised the prerogative to accelerate the wheels of justice for a significant number of inmates across custodial centers. This is aimed at reviewing the cases of awaiting trial inmates and those with minor offenses, ensuring their rights are upheld and contributing to better management of the correctional facilities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the assignment which I lay out for the Justice Sector reform teams today is in two-fold:

a. Access to Justice: We must work towards the aim of ensuring that justice is not a luxury reserved for the wealthy or the connected. Our efforts must be geared towards innovative ideas that ensure that the dispensation of justice is available to all, including the poor, the vulnerable, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are the lifeblood of our economy.

b. Efficiency of Justice: We must ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to be done in good time. A “justice delayed is justice denied” is not just a legal maxim; it is a profound economic truth.

Let me also emphasize that the justice system must be viewed as a chain, which is only as strong as its weakest link. For a commercial dispute to be resolved efficiently, the entire justice ecosystem must work in harmony. This includes Pre-Action Collaboration involving the promotion of robust Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to ensure that not every dispute ends up in our already overburdened courts. Also, Technological Integration by which we ensure that our courts, law enforcement agencies, and ministries of justice can communicate and share information seamlessly through technology.

In addition, I wish to emphasize the critical need for Procedural Harmony as a means of improving the ease of doing business. If we are to encourage economic growth, it is critical that we as stakeholders in justice delivery, take steps to align our rules of procedure across federal and state jurisdictions, to reduce complexity and “forum shopping.”

The collaboration and cooperation between the Federal and State must be sustained.  Your Excellency, distinguished participants, I wish to assure that the Federal Ministry of Justice remains fully committed to leading and supporting these reforms. We are championing legislative and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of our courts, promoting arbitration and mediation, and leveraging technology to improve transparency and speed.

However, the Federal Government cannot do it alone. The bulk of retail justice delivery happens at the state level. This is why your work as Justice Sector Reform Teams is so vital. I urge you, during your deliberations, to move beyond identifying problems and to focus on developing practical, home-grown solutions that can be implemented and scaled. Let us take a lead from the laudable feats of the Nasarawa State Government today, which continues to lead in advancing the administration of justice. I remain grateful to Your Excellency for your proactive and resolute attitude towards ideals that enhance justice and improve the lives of citizens.

Today, I challenge the Justice Sector Teams to set measurable targets. For instance, how can we reduce the average case lifecycle for commercial disputes? How can we mainstream ADR into our court processes? How can we leverage technology to provide legal information and support to SMEs?

I am confident that this meeting will produce innovative ideas and strengthen the bonds of collaboration among our various states. I look forward to receiving the outcomes of your discussions, which will undoubtedly inform and enrich our national policy framework.

It is now my singular honour and privilege to declare this meeting of the Network of Justice Sector Reform Teams officially open.

I wish you all fruitful and productive deliberations.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.