In a bid to promote stronger cooperation among key stakeholders and institutions, Lagos State key department and agencies, under the Ministry of Justice converged recently to chart a new course to improve justice delivery and economic development in the state. The meeting which was to improve collaborations among ministries and agencies in the state, had the theme, “Enhancing collaboration for effective justice delivery”, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Declaring the stakeholders meeting open, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised the significance of the Ministry’s efforts in organising the programme, noting that the state government is dedicated to creating a more responsive, inclusive, and efficient justice system for the benefit of all Lagosians, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. He acknowledged the complexity of justice delivery, noting that the difference between African countries and other developed nations is the rule of law and its advancements in science and technology. Hamzat stated that the rule of law is increasingly becoming a subset of technology and science, as both are transforming many lives, whether we embrace it or not.
He expressed concern about delays in justice, citing the prolonged case of a BRT driver accused of rape and murder, which has remained unresolved for over a year. He called on participants to critically review Lagos’ judicial processes and seek lasting solutions to these inefficiencies. He also called for urgent reforms in land management laws to combat the growing threats posed by climate change, particularly in a coastal city like Lagos. He stated that Lag
os, a rapidly growing coastal megacity, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. “The rising sea levels, along with the extreme weather patterns we are witnessing, place Lagos at significant risk of sinking in a few years if immediate action is not taken,” the Deputy Governor warned. He stressed that the existing land management system must be overhauled to mitigate these risks and ensure the future sustainability of the state. The Deputy Governor also highlighted that managing land effectively is a persistent challenge in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State. “
With a complex system of land ownership, traditional land rights, and bureaucratic processes, without proper regulation and reforms in land laws, we are not just risking environmental catastrophe but also exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities,” the Deputy Governor noted.
