Why does Nigeria’s juvenile justice system place greater emphasis on punishment than rehabilitation?

Nigeria’s juvenile justice system, which is modeled after the British system, prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation primarily due to the lack of well-organized community treatment efforts.1

Experts suggest that this deficiency in rehabilitative infrastructure is partly a consequence of the breakdown of the traditional extended-family system. Historically, this family structure played a vital role in the socialization and control of children, but its decline has left a gap in the support systems necessary for effective community-based rehabilitation. Consequently, while the juvenile justice system is designed to protect the rights of offenders aged 7 to 17 through formal court proceedings, the absence of robust community support mechanisms has shifted the focus toward punitive measures.1