Nigeria Plans to Repeal 268 Outdated Federal Laws and Review 664 Others
Nigeria is moving to overhaul its legal system, with plans to scrap 268 outdated federal laws and update hundreds of others to reflect current realities and international standards.
Abuja — The Nigerian government has announced plans to repeal 268 obsolete federal laws and review 664 others as part of efforts to modernise the country's legal framework.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the reviewed Laws of the Federation of Nigeria covering the period from 2004 to 2025.
The documents were presented to him by the Chairman of the Law Review Committee, Olawale Fapounda.
Fagbemi explained that the exercise was designed to remove outdated legislation, improve the relevance of existing laws and ensure that Nigeria's legal system responds more effectively to present-day governance needs and international standards.
According to the Attorney-General, the committee assessed 932 federal enactments alongside 731 subsidiary legislations during the review process.
The exercise identified 664 enactments, together with their relevant subsidiary legislation, for inclusion in the proposed 2025 edition of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The planned repeal and review are expected to simplify the country's legal framework, eliminate provisions that are no longer relevant and strengthen the administration of justice.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to ensure that Nigerian laws remain relevant, accessible and responsive to the country's changing social, economic and institutional needs.
