The chief executive officer of the Public and Private Development Centre, Lucy Abagi, has called for a unified, multi-stakeholder effort to strengthen justice, security, and governance systems for Nigeria’s sustainable development.

Ms Abagi made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2025 Access to Justice Parley.

The event was attended by judges, lawyers, security agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, civil society organisations, pro bono legal networks, law clinic coordinators, media representatives, and scholars.

Ms Abagi said that the platform was created to translate ideas into action and reforms.

“The 2023 parley was a catalyst for the Court Administration and Case Management Project and the second phase of the Reforming Pre-trial Detention in Nigeria Project. These initiatives came from the belief that justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done efficiently, transparently, and without delay,” she said.

Ms Abagi said that the momentum continued in 2024, when stakeholders advanced innovative and inclusive reforms, strengthened access to legal aid, and deepened trust in justice institutions.

She said that the 2025 theme reflected the urgent need for coherence and alignment among justice, governance, and security institutions.

Ms Abagi noted that sustainable development could not exist without fairness and the rule of law.

“We cannot discuss peace and security without tackling injustice, exclusion, and weak institutions,” she maintained.

She, however, described justice, security, and governance as interconnected pillars that uphold national stability, strengthen public trust, and enable economic opportunities.

Ms Abagi also mentioned that justice delivery was the responsibility of all citizens and institutions, not only courts and lawyers.

She urged stakeholders to address key issues, including improving court efficiency, scaling digital innovation, reducing pre-trial detention, upholding human rights, and strengthening collaboration between justice institutions and security agencies.

“These are not abstract questions; they are calls to action,” she said.

Ms Abagi called for increased digital capacity, data-driven decision-making, and technology-enabled reform in the justice and security sectors.

The PPDC chief reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to providing evidence, platforms, and partnerships to drive reform, saying the goal was to ensure justice remains the foundation of Nigeria’s future.

She expressed her appreciation to the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, law enforcement agencies, civil society, and international partners for their support of the reform agenda.

“As we continue this journey, let us turn dialogue into action and action into impact. Justice is not just a system; it is the heartbeat of our nation’s progress,” Ms Abagi said.

(NAN)