On December 18, 2025, Spaces for Change | S4C participated in a public hearing convened by the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Security and Intelligence, and Interior. Hosted at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the hearing brought together senior government officials, security agencies, legal experts, and civil society stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, alongside revisions to the Legal Practitioners Act.
The session unfolded against growing public concern about insecurity, kidnapping, terrorism, and the delicate balance between state power and human rights. Central to the discussions was a legislative proposal seeking to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism and prescribe the death penalty as the mandatory punishment. The debate that followed revealed complex tensions between deterrence, constitutional safeguards, and Nigeria’s obligations under international law.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice cautioned that prescribing capital punishment across kidnapping-related offences could have far-reaching legal and diplomatic consequences for Nigeria. Drawing on international practice, he observed that several countries refuse to extradite suspects to jurisdictions where execution remains an option, potentially hindering cross-border cooperation in terrorism cases. He further warned that a punitive model anchored on executions could unintentionally feed extremist narratives around martyrdom, while deepening existing human rights concerns surrounding detention practices.
Complementing this perspective, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission underscored the importance of conceptual clarity in counterterrorism legislation. It explained that, globally, terrorism is understood through three interlinked dimensions: ideological motivation, political objectives, and the deliberate use of mass intimidation. Legal definitions that stray beyond this framework risk sweeping legitimate civic activity into the ambit of terrorism, weakening rights protections and eroding public trust in the justice system.
Within this context, Spaces for Change reinforced the arguments advanced in its 10-paged legal memorandum submitted to the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Security and Intelligence, and Interior. The document highlighted the dangers of overly broad definition of terrorism that may criminalize expression, restrict association, or constrain humanitarian work under the guise of heightened security measures. It reiterated concerns about the absence of clear due-process guarantees in provisions related to terrorist designations and proscription, asset seizure, deregistration of non-profit organizations, and prolonged detention beyond constitutionally permissible timelines. In addition, S4C emphasized ongoing vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in conflict-affected contexts, calling for explicit sanctions against abduction and forced marriage by terrorist actors.
Throughout the hearing, committee members acknowledged the complexity of balancing human rights with national security priorities and assured participants that all submissions would receive careful consideration as lawmakers refine the final text of the bill. The exchanges revealed not only divergent perspectives on punishment and deterrence, but also a shared recognition that poorly designed counterterrorism frameworks can produce unintended harms — shrinking civic space, weakening democratic oversight, and limiting opportunities for legitimate dissent.
Ultimately, the public hearing served as an important democratic platform for dialogue on the future of Nigeria’s counterterrorism architecture. For Spaces for Change, it reaffirmed the necessity of persistent, evidence-informed advocacy that foregrounds constitutional safeguards while addressing legitimate security concerns. By engaging legislators, government institutions, and civil society actors in constructive debate, the session underscored a critical lesson: effective counterterrorism must be precise, rights-respecting, and anchored in the rule of law, ensuring that national security efforts coexist with the freedoms and civic participation essential to democratic life.
