By Vivian Okejeme
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has disclosed that the Federal Government’s Law Review Committee has identified 269 federal laws as obsolete, archaic or spent.
Fagbemi also said that 663 other laws would be forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu for consideration and possible amendments to bring them in line with international best practices.
The AGF disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the reviewed Laws of the Federation of Nigeria covering the period from 2004 to 2025.
Receiving the report from the committee’s Chairman, Olawale Fapounda, SAN, Fagbemi said the Laws of the Federation must serve as reliable references for courts, legal practitioners, public institutions, investors and the general public.
“I am informed that the Committee examined 932 federal enactments and 731 subsidiary legislations. Of the 932 enactments considered, 663, together with their relevant subsidiary legislation, have been identified for inclusion in the LFN 2025,” he said.
The AGF noted that the last official review of the Laws of the Federation was conducted in 2004, adding that more than 20 years had passed, during which Nigeria had witnessed significant legislative, constitutional, institutional and technological developments.
He said several new enactments and amendments had accumulated over the period, making a comprehensive review necessary to ensure that federal laws remained coherent, current, accessible and responsive to the country’s needs.
According to him, the review, update and consolidation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria represented a major undertaking and a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector and modernise the country’s legal framework.
Fagbemi explained that the next step was to present the report to President Bola Tinubu for onward transmission to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative consideration and action.
He stressed that the more than two-decade gap between the previous review and the current exercise should not be allowed to recur, given its potential negative consequences for national development.
“We must strengthen our capacity to track new enactments, amendments and subsidiary legislation so that our laws remain current and responsive to emerging developments.
“Ultimately, our 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.
“In this regard, I particularly look forward to the cooperation and support of members of the National Assembly, especially those present here, in facilitating the timely consideration of the proposed legislative measures.
“The successful conclusion of this exercise will require the continued collaboration of the Executive and the Legislature.
“Beyond the immediate task of producing the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2025, we must also ensure that this exercise establishes a sustainable foundation for the periodic review and updating of our laws.”
Fagbemi commended the committee for adopting a structured approach to its assignment, noting that the exercise was carried out through 14 thematic working groups, supported by a series of retreats and technical engagements in different locations.
“I commend the Chairman and members of the Committee for the diligence, commitment and professionalism demonstrated in discharging this responsibility, particularly in the face of the logistical and technical challenges encountered,” he said.
He added that the engagements provided opportunities to review the work, harmonise the outputs of the various groups, benchmark international best practices and strengthen the quality assurance process.
The AGF 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.
He said their technical expertise, institutional support and contributions had been invaluable to the review process.
“While we commend the progress made, the quality, accuracy and practical utility of the final publication must remain our priority,” he added.
Earlier, Fapounda said his committee had 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.
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