Description
Nigeria has always lagged behind in the protection of the human rights of her citizens in comparison to the performance of her peers. Efforts have even been made to limit the human rights available to Nigerians to the bland first generation civil and political rights despite Nigeria's ratification of international human rights instruments which grant the citizens access to the more uplifting human rights guaranteed under the second and third generation human rights regimes. This work accordingly situates the bane of Nigerian citizens frustration in fully realising the protection afforded by International Human Rights Law to the largely timorous and nonchalant attitude of judges, who have shrinked away from boldly articulating the audacious provisions of these diverse human rights instruments in order to secure progressively better living standards for ordinary Nigerians. Synoptic voyages into the practices of other countries like India and South Africa, disclosed a diametrically opposite approach, with the courts of these nations utilising every leverage within their disposal to advance the cause of human rights for the citizens. The paper finally proffered measures which when adopted will culminate first, in the enhanced protection of the human rights of Nigerian citizens; improvement of general living conditions of the ordinary Nigerians and finally the reclaiming of Nigeria's severely battered reputation in the comity of nations.