00:00Members of the National Assembly, Honourable Ministers, the Secretary to the Government, the Chief of Staff, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to sign into law.
00:15I would like to sincerely thank the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all the distinguished Honourable Leaders and Members of the National Assembly for the expeditious consideration and passage of the Appropriation Bill.
00:33I thank you, distinguished Honourable Members, most sincerely for your attention. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you.
00:46When former President Muhammad Buhari signed several bold and sweeping laws during his time in office, they were hailed as game changers. But years later, the true impact of many of those laws reveals a troubling pattern, strong on paper, weak in practice.
01:08We begin with 2017 laws, the compulsory treatment and care for victims of Gunshot Act and the Anti-Torture Act.
01:22The Gunshot Treatment Law was meant to save lives by removing the barrier of police reports before hospitals treat gunshot victims.
01:33But the reality, many victims are still rejected or delayed at hospitals, especially private ones that delay, often proves fatal, but not because there is no law, but because there is no enforcement.
01:52The Anti-Torture Act was designed to end inhuman treatment by law enforcement and hold perpetrators accountable.
02:02Yet, despite its existence, torture, unlawful detention, and police brutality remain widespread, there are few, if any, successful prosecutions under the Act.
02:19One success story is the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Act of 2019.
02:38This oil reform law was passed to increase Nigeria's revenue from offshore oil drilling, and it is working.
02:49It's been implemented and is, in effect, bringing more funds into the government coffers.
02:57In this case, the law isn't just paper, it is profit.
03:03Now, to law we've promised, but lead to power behind them.
03:08The Not Too Young to Run Act reduced the age requirement for contesting political office.
03:15It inspired a wave of youthful enthusiasm.
03:20But real barriers remain.
03:23Lack of political backing, money, and access to party platforms mean that young candidates are still sidelined.
03:33The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act also tells a similar story.
03:42It guarantees inclusion and access to persons with disabilities.
03:48But enforcement is weak.
03:50Many public buildings are still inaccessible, and employers are not held accountable for discriminatory practices.
04:00The law is there, but for millions, little has changed.
04:06Security-wise, the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act was a response to Nigeria's growing arms problem.
04:16The Buhari Administration created the National Center for the Control of Small Arms in 2021, a step forward.
04:26However, the full legal framework is still incomplete.
04:32A permanent national commission was proposed and passed by the Senate in 2022, but is yet to be implemented.
04:41Until then, arms continue to circulate freely.
04:46And now, we turn to Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022, a significant update to Nigeria's anti-terror laws.
04:58It provides a more comprehensive framework to fight terrorism and terror financing.
05:05It's in effect, but as always, enforcement is key, and critics warn that misuse of this law can pose threat to civil liberties.
05:17The Buhari era gave Nigeria several important laws, but a law is only as good as its enforcement.
05:28Inconsistent implementation, lack of political will, and poor institutional capacity continue to block progress.
05:38When laws are passed, but not enforced, they don't just lose power, they're deep in public distrust.
05:46The aftershock of power isn't just about what was signed, it is about what still hasn't changed.
