Nigeria, Jan. 29 -- For decades, our national conversation about justice has been stubbornly state-centric. We debate the independence of the bench, the number of new courts built, and the process of appointing senior advocates amongst other institutional issues. These issues matter. But they also mask a deeper and more troubling reality: for millions of Nigerians, the justice system is not a source of protection or opportunity. It is distant, slow, expensive, and intimidating. In practice, it often feels like a system designed without the people it was meant to serve.

If Nigeria is to achieve its ambition of stability, shared prosperity, and economic leadership, this must change. Justice can no longer be designed solely from the perspec...