The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has officially published its Human Rights Situation Dashboard for April 2026, accompanied by an advisory on promoting and protecting civic space. In April, the Commission received a total of 266,787 complaints across its 38 offices in the country, recording a significant rise in public grievances. This figure marks an increase of over ten thousand cases from the previous month, with the North Central region recording the highest volume at 111,889 complaints. The Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Imo, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Kogi emerged as the top ten states with the highest number of reported violations especially on child abuse.
The documented complaints span several critical human rights concerns, including insecurity, gender-based violence, child rights abuses, discrimination, and infringements on civil and political liberties. Women, children, and other vulnerable populations have borne a disproportionate burden of these crises, experiencing widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, psychological trauma, and an erosion of public confidence in state institutions.
In furtherance of its statutory mandate, the Commission has issued an Advisory on the Protection and Promotion of Civic Space, with specific reference to the rights to freedom of speech, expression, association, and assembly as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and applicable international human rights instruments. The advisory is directed at a broad audience: federal and state governments, the National and State Assemblies, the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, protest leaders, and the public at large. It sets out the obligations of each and makes clear that the protection of civic space is not optional; it is foundational to any functioning democracy.
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