By Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has identified 269 obsolete and outdated federal laws for repeal, while 663 other enactments are to be reviewed and updated to align Nigeria’s legal framework with international best practices.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the reviewed Laws of the Federation of Nigeria covering 2004 to 2025 from the Federal Government’s Law Review Committee.
Fagbemi said the 269 laws had been identified as obsolete, archaic or spent and would be removed from the country’s body of federal legislation, while the 663 others, alongside relevant subsidiary legislation, would be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and necessary legislative action.
Receiving the report from the committee’s chairman, Olawale Fapounda (SAN), the Attorney General said the review was aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s laws remained relevant, accessible and responsive to contemporary realities.
He disclosed that the committee examined 932 federal enactments and 731 subsidiary legislations, out of which 663 enactments were recommended for inclusion in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2025.
Fagbemi expressed concern that the last official review of the country’s federal laws was conducted in 2004, noting that more than two decades had passed without a comprehensive update despite significant legislative, constitutional, institutional and technological developments.
He said the period had witnessed the introduction of several new laws and amendments, making the comprehensive review necessary to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure that federal legislation remained coherent and accessible.
According to him, the exercise represents a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector and modernise Nigeria’s legal framework.
The AGF said the next step would be to present the committee’s report to President Bola Tinubu for onward transmission to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.
He urged the Executive and Legislature to work together to ensure the timely passage of the proposed legislative measures, stressing that Nigeria could no longer afford another prolonged gap in reviewing its laws.
Fagbemi said the government must establish an effective mechanism for tracking new enactments, amendments and subsidiary legislation to ensure that the country’s legal framework keeps pace with emerging developments.
“Our ultimate objective is to build a modern, coherent and accessible legal framework that promotes the rule of law, strengthens the administration of justice, supports effective governance, protects the rights of citizens and contributes to national development and security,” he said.
He added that the exercise should provide a sustainable foundation for the periodic review and updating of federal laws rather than remain a one-off intervention.
The Attorney General commended the committee for its diligence and structured approach, explaining that its work was carried out through 14 thematic working groups, supported by retreats and technical engagements in different locations.
He also acknowledged the contributions of development partners and collaborating institutions, including the ROLAC Programme, the Law Commission of England and Wales, LexisNexis South Africa, the Lagos State Law Reform Commission and Law Pavilion.
Fagbemi said their technical expertise and institutional support had been instrumental in the successful completion of the review.
Earlier, Fapounda disclosed that the committee spent more than two years reviewing, harmonising and consolidating federal legislation.
He identified several areas requiring further legislative attention, including archaic statutory language, cumbersome cross-references, outdated chapter numbers and inconsistencies in the sequencing of some Acts.
The committee chairman thanked the Federal Government for entrusting its members with what he described as an enormous responsibility, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s legal system.
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