NLSlaunches free legal aid via WhatsApp for indigent Nigerians
The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has launched the Virtual Legal Aid Initiative of Nigeria (VLAIN), providing free legal services via WhatsApp and other online platforms for Nigerians earning below the ₦70,000 minimum wage. The initiative targets 100 million indigent Nigerians within six months, addressing gaps in the Legal Aid Council's (LAC) services which currently only cover criminal cases in FCT and state capitals. VLAIN will use a train-the-trainers model to scale legal aid nationwide, with paralegals and lawyers training additional personnel monthly. Response time is 72 hours. This expands access to justice for over 70% of Nigerians previously unable to receive legal aid.