NIGERIA AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: A LEGAL APPRAISAL

Abstract

This article shall appraise the obligations of Nigerian government under international law on freedom of religion. International human rights law standards as set out in various United Nations (UN)and regional instruments are presently the yardstick in assessing the level of human right promotion, enforcement and enjoyment by member states and their citizens. Most member states particularly in the developing nations; including Nigeria are in most cases, negligent in upholding these international law standards in the recognition, promotion and enforcement of this right thereby exposing their subjects to various denials and breaches of their right without adequate protection or remedies. It is therefore pertinent to embark on the critical appraisal of these obligations of Nigeria government under international human rights law on freedom of religion in Nigeria. To do this, the researcher adopted the doctrinal research methodology which includes, the consideration and examination of statutes and case law as primary sources and journal articles, textbooks and periodic as secondary sources. It is the findings of this work that, the recognition and enforcement of the right to religious freedom is low in Nigeria. And that, most minority religious groups are repressed by the denials of their rights to religious freedom by those in positions of authority and fellow citizens in the major religious groups among other findings. It is recommended that, legal and institutional framework on religious freedom be strengthened by amendment and enactment of laws and improvement on the functionality of existing institutions and the creation of new ones to enhance religious freedom in Nigeria.