The Tap Initiative for Citizens’ Development (Tap Initiative), has urged the Nigerian government to urgently ratify the Malabo Protocol to adequately fight violent vrimes in the country. 

The Malabo Protocol is a landmark African Union legal instrument designed to strengthen justice, accountability across the African continent.

The protocol, adopted in 2014 by the African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, seeks to expand the jurisdiction of the African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights to include international and transnational crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, terrorism, trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, and unconstitutional changes of government.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Executive Director of Tap Initiative, Martin Obono, stressed that Nigeria’s need for ratification of the protocol is necessary.

Mr Obono said, “For Nigeria, the Malabo Protocol is not an abstract legal framework; it is a practical and urgent tool for justice.

“Our country continues to grapple with terrorism, trafficking, and transnational crimes that demand stronger and more coordinated judicial responses beyond national borders.”

The Malabo Protocol requires 15 ratifications by African Union member states to enforce it, however, only Angola has ratified the protocol. 

Tap Initiative has noted that Nigeria is well-positioned to lead the continent in advancing the protocol, given its historical role in shaping African governance frameworks.

“Nigeria has long stood at the forefront of advancing justice and the rule of law in Africa. Ratifying the Malabo Protocol is an opportunity for the country to once again demonstrate leadership and commitment to continental accountability mechanisms,” Mr Obono stated.

Over the past decade, Nigeria faced significant challenges in prosecuting perpetrators of terrorism and related crimes, sometimes due to structural constraints including limited prosecutorial capacity and concerns around the safety of judges, witnesses, and victims.

Tap Initiative argued that the Malabo Protocol offers a complementary regional mechanism that strengthens national sovereignty.

Mr Obono said, “This is not about surrendering sovereignty; it is about reinforcing justice. A regional criminal jurisdiction provides the independence, security, and institutional strength required to ensure that perpetrators of grave crimes are held accountable.”

Tap Initiative also highlighted the growing threat of human trafficking, drug trafficking, and the illegal movement of hazardous waste affecting Nigeria and other African countries, crimes explicitly addressed under the protocol.

To advance Nigeria’s ratification, the organisation has undertaken several strategic actions, including submitting a formal memorandum to the federal ministries of justice and foreign affairs, convening a coalition of civil society and legal experts, and engaging key government stakeholders in Abuja. 

Tap Initiative is also collaborating with Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA) to mobilise a continent-wide coalition aimed at securing the Protocol’s entry into force by 2028.

Tap Initiative also called on the Federal Government to act without delay, urging the National Assembly to support the ratification process, and encourag civil society, legal practitioners, and citizens to lend their voices to the campaign.

Efforts to get the reaction of the pesidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on the issue were futile as calls to his mobile and text message sent were not responded to as of the time this story was filed.