By Suzan Edeh
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) will host a major national dialogue next month to tackle Nigeria’s severe prison congestion and expanding legal aid deficit.
The two-day event, which combines the Access to Justice Parley and the Law for Humanity Summit, is scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Event Centre in Mabushi, Abuja.
Under the theme “Balancing Security with Fundamental Rights: Terrorism, Technology and Access to Justice,” the conference aims to pioneer systemic reforms across Nigeria’s judicial landscape.
According to PPDC Chief Executive Officer Lucy James Abagi, the event will gather a diverse coalition of judges, legal practitioners, civil society groups, security experts, and tech innovators. The primary objective is to fast-track court proceedings, standardise fairer pre-trial processes, and integrate robust digital solutions within the justice system.
Key policy discussions will focus on issues which include
expanding virtual court sessions nationwide, Implementing advanced digital tracking systems inside custodial centres, providing specialized tech and human rights training for judges, prosecutors, and investigators.and balancing state security measures with digital privacy rights.
Breaking from traditional legal conferences, the event will feature a public town hall allowing citizens to directly question judicial officers and law enforcement agencies.
The agenda also includes firsthand testimonies from former detainees, creative performances, and the formal launch of PPDC’s Access to Justice Impact Report.
Furthermore, in partnership with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the Law for Humanity Summit will explore how technology can bridge the country’s legal aid gap.
The summit will host a Law Clinic Showcase, awarding Innovation Seed Grants of up to $1,500 to the most impactful university law clinic projects.
The upcoming summit builds on significant interventions by the PPDC. Internal data reveals that in 2025 alone, the organisation secured free legal representation for over 20,009 detainees, successfully facilitating the release of 8,552 individuals who were being held in custody without trial.
Organisers anticipate that the November dialogue will yield concrete policy commitments to alleviate the plight of thousands of inmates currently languishing in correctional facilities without access to legal counsel.
