By Erewunmi Peace

Germany, Australia, and Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) have renewed calls for Nigeria to take urgent steps toward abolishing the death penalty and commuting existing death sentences.

Speaking during a national dialogue organized by ASF France in Abuja to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty, representatives from the German Embassy, the Australian High Commission, and ASF France expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s continued use of capital punishment.

According to reports, Nigeria currently has over 3,500 inmates on death row, many of whom have spent years awaiting execution. The human rights organization noted that the prolonged delays amount to psychological torture and contravene international human rights standards.

The Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, Mr. Alexander Erwin, urged Nigerian authorities to declare an official moratorium on executions as a first step toward total abolition. Similarly, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Leanne Johnston, emphasized the need for Nigeria to align its justice system with global human rights commitments.

Chinyere Agwu, Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, revealed that the organization has been advocating for death penalty reform through its SAFE project — a program that offers legal aid to vulnerable persons facing capital punishment. She lauded recent presidential pardons and commutations granted to some inmates but urged the government to build on those actions with a permanent policy shift.

ASF France called on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and state authorities to collaborate on a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s death penalty laws, highlighting that such reforms would strengthen the justice system and enhance Nigeria’s global human rights reputation.

The World Day Against the Death Penalty, observed annually on October 10, is dedicated to raising awareness about the inhumanity of capital punishment and encouraging countries worldwide to adopt abolitionist policies.