The Lagos State Government and the Government of Canada on Monday moved to deepen justice-sector cooperation, with both sides signalling interest in sustained institutional collaboration under the Canada–Nigeria Justice Cooperation Project.
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Speaking at an international cooperation meeting in Ikeja, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN), said cross-border partnerships had become increasingly vital to strengthening justice delivery and institutional capacity.
“Lagos is Nigeria’s most populous and economically strategic state, and with rapid urbanisation, migration, inequality and population growth come mounting pressures on the justice system. These realities demand a justice system that is modern, coordinated and forward-looking,” Pedro said.
He stressed that effective justice delivery goes beyond enacting strong laws.
“It requires responsive institutions, professional capacity and strategic partnerships,” he said.
Pedro said the Lagos State Ministry of Justice had pursued deliberate reforms over the years through policy initiatives, legislative interventions and the establishment of specialised institutions to enhance accountability, efficiency and public confidence.
According to him, agencies such as the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Law Reform Commission, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the Task Force Against Human Trafficking operate within an integrated framework.
“These institutions support prosecution, law reform, victim support and inter-agency coordination,” he said.
Placing the Canada–Nigeria Justice Cooperation Project in context, Pedro said it offered opportunities for collaboration in capacity building, policy development, legal reform, data management and operational coordination.
“Canada’s experience in rights-based justice and institutional accountability presents valuable learning opportunities,” he said.
“At the same time, Lagos’ experience in managing justice delivery in a large, diverse and rapidly growing urban environment offers practical insights. International cooperation should be built on mutual respect, shared values and measurable outcomes,” Pedro said.
Earlier, the Co-Director of the Canada–Nigeria Justice Cooperation Project and counsel with Canada’s Department of Justice, Ms Genevieve Westrope, said Canada’s engagement with Nigeria was anchored on a technical assistance framework that supports structured, time-bound cooperation.
“Our involvement followed a request from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for legal technical assistance in addressing ethnic violence and child protection,” Westrope said, noting that discussions in Lagos revealed broader areas of shared interest.
She said the Canadian delegation had engaged government institutions and civil society organisations in Abuja before visiting Lagos, describing the state as a hub of institutional coordination and innovation.
“We heard consistently that Lagos has developed strong systems and collaborative approaches,” she said. “We are here to understand how these systems work and to identify areas for mutual knowledge exchange,” Westrope said.
Westrope described the engagement as one of the highlights of the team’s visit to Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Hameed Oyenuga, said international cooperation offered a valuable opportunity for institutional reflection and improvement.
“Our mandate covers legal advisory services, policy formulation, legislative drafting, criminal prosecution, civil litigation and oversight of specialised agencies,” Oyenuga said.
He expressed confidence that the meeting would lay the foundation for sustained Lagos–Canada cooperation, not only in protecting vulnerable persons but also in advancing broader justice-sector reforms with long-term impact.
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