Nigeria Urges India to Protect Rights, Welfare of Nigerians in Custody

The Federal Government has appealed to India to ensure the humane treatment, welfare and protection of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians held in custodial centres across the country.

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

According to a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the minister expressed concern over the treatment of Nigerians serving in custodial centres in India and called for greater attention to their welfare, dignity and fundamental rights.

“I call on the Indian government to ensure the humane and proper treatment of Nigerian citizens serving in custodial centres in the country, and that they receive appropriate attention to their welfare, dignity and fundamental human rights,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu described a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian and Indian National Human Rights Commissions as an important step towards strengthening cooperation between both countries.

She said the agreement would help translate their longstanding diplomatic relations into practical institutional collaboration, particularly in improving access to justice, strengthening complaint-handling mechanisms and protecting vulnerable people.

The minister also said Nigeria and India could contribute to a more inclusive international human rights framework as members of the Global South. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen engagement with India and other international partners on human rights diplomacy.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further appreciated United Nations member states for supporting Nigeria’s election to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2028 term. She said the country remained committed to its obligations under the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Chief Anthony Ojukwu, described the MoU as a framework for stronger institutional cooperation, technical exchanges and the sharing of best practices.

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

The Chairperson of India’s National Human Rights Commission, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relations between both countries and noted their similarities in population, cultural diversity and democratic aspirations.

He said the agreement would support institutional learning, capacity development and the exchange of experiences between the two commissions.

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