The Federal Government has urged Indian authorities to safeguard the dignity, welfare, and fundamental human rights of Nigerian nationals held in detention facilities across India.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal in Abuja while hosting a joint delegation from the National Human Rights Commissions (NHRCs) of Nigeria and India.
She said, “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. There is the need to strengthen access to justice, improve complaint-handling mechanisms and protect the rights of persons in vulnerable circumstances, ensuring equitable access to essential support and services for them.”
According to a Thursday statement by ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the minister raised concerns over the conditions of incarcerated Nigerians and pushed for improved access to justice and complaint-handling systems for vulnerable persons.
The diplomatic engagement coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries’ human rights commissions to boost technical exchanges, joint research, and institutional collaboration. Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the pact allows both Global South nations to translate their longstanding bilateral ties into practical human rights reforms, while also thanking UN member states for electing Nigeria to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2028 term.