Lawyers from Nigeria and South Africa are exploring ways of advancing global best practices to ensure easy access to justice.
Both nations’ lawyers held a meeting on Wednesday in South Africa.
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association are in South Africa on a legal services trade mission to share ideas and collaborate with their colleagues on practical areas of growth between the two countries.
At the meeting, participants observed that states with poorly functioning legal systems and poor crime control are generally considered to be unattractive to investors.
Nigerian business men and other individuals, who have practical experiences of some of the challenges, spoke out about issues of immigration, Labour & other laws, discrimination and even the xenophobic attacks.
A Representative of the South African Ministry of Trade, Wamkele Mene, was, however, quick to explain the investor protection laws available.
He also stressed that the move to reduce borders on the African continent was currently being implemented.
At the end of meeting, the participants agreed to inaugurate a Nigeria-South Africa Lawyers Forum to share expertise on addressing the issues.
The meeting largely focused on needed input by lawyers to enable their countries meet development targets for poverty reduction.
They were of the opinion that eradicating poverty from Africa required that African governments develop the capacity to ensure safety, security and access to justice for all.
According to them, the reform of law, order and justice systems is only possible if governments and the public at large accept that reform is key to achieving economic growth.
The Nigerian lawyers also believe that it should be at the forefront of leading discourse on this issues within countries, a situation that triggered the meeting between the two nations.
At the meeting were Nigerian lawyers led by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh, South African lawyers, Facilitator, NBA Legal Services Trade Mission to SA, Wale Fapohunda and Acting Chief Director, Africa Bilateral Economic Relations, Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa, Lebogang Makoloi among others.
The Nigerian Lawyers also visited law firms and key justice institutions in South Africa with a view to identify best practices and share policy framework relevant to Nigeria.