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Formal court and legal procedures are slow, costly and often ineffective. The enforcement of contracts is impeded. This is again identified in Doing Business studies both generally and in the case of Nigeria both as an important constraint to doing business and a key indicator of the overall investment climate. There is a consensus on the need to develop alternative dispute resolution modalites, both court connected (that is involving diversion from courts) and free standing. Lagos and several other states already have functioning prototypes of both – in the case of the non-court affiliated Citizens Mediation Centre already serving over 6000 clients a year.
The ADR Center of Italy in association with the Negotiation & Conflict Management Group, an NGO have been retained to develop in collaboration with the three pilot states judiciary, bar, state governments, and other stakeholders plans for developing both court connected and mediation centers in the three states. An Assessment Report has served as a basis for agreeing appropriate ADR mechanism with the stakeholders in each state. The Chief Justice of Abia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing that state to go forward. Final stages of negotiation are underway in Kaduna and Lagos.
For information about this component contact Mr. Chukwudi Odili, Investment Climate Specialist at codili@msme-nigeria.org
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