Human Right Index and Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration

This research examines human rights in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration (2015–2023), using the Human Rights Watch (HRW) Index as a benchmark for evaluation. Anchored on Social Contract Theory, the study assesses the extent of implementation and enforcement of human rights laws, identifies major violations, and analyzes the role of government institutions and security agencies in either protecting or infringing rights. Relying on secondary data from HRW reports, Amnesty International, academic works, and media sources, the research adopts qualitative thematic content analysis. Findings reveal persistent violations, including arbitrary arrests, suppression of free speech, unlawful detentions, extrajudicial killings, and restrictions on peaceful assembly, notably during the #EndSARS protests. Institutional weaknesses, political interference, inadequate funding, and security-first policies undermined Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights commitments. Despite existing frameworks such as the 1999 Constitution and the National Human Rights Commission, enforcement remained inconsistent, with state actors rarely held accountable. The study concludes that Buhari’s tenure recorded a deteriorated human rights record and recommends strengthening institutional independence, domesticating international treaties, ensuring accountability, and balancing security with fundamental freedoms.