By Olufunmi Zainab
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged residents of Kano State to be aware of their fundamental human rights and seek redress through appropriate authorities whenever those rights are violated.
Speaking on Thursday during a consultation forum on the 2026 implementation plan of Nigeria’s National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Kano State Coordinator of the commission, Shehu Abdullahi, said the gathering was aimed at strengthening collaboration among stakeholders on human rights protection.
The forum brought together representatives of the State Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), security agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs).
Abdullahi explained that the programme reviewed implementation of the National Action Plan from 2024 to date while outlining priorities for the 2026 phase.
According to him, the promotion and protection of human rights should not be left to the commission alone, stressing that all stakeholders must play active roles in ensuring effective implementation.
He said the forum also provided an opportunity for participants to assess their level of contribution and identify areas requiring improvement.
Abdullahi further stressed the need to involve the business community in discussions around human rights, noting that many workplace and commercial-related violations often go unnoticed.
“When discussing business and human rights, the business community must be included because many violations occur within that sector,” he said.
He advised members of the public to report cases of rights violations to relevant authorities, adding that mechanisms for redress exist at the federal, state and local government levels.
“The public must recognise when their rights are violated and report such cases to the appropriate authorities for redress,” he said.
Also speaking, stakeholder representative Stephen Nwosu said many Nigerians were still unaware of their fundamental rights, making them vulnerable to abuse.
He urged citizens to become more proactive in defending and asserting their rights.
