The Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip, says alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is an indispensable component of Nigeria’s legal system.

Mr Kanyip stated this on Monday at the opening of the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse (KDMDC) Settlement Week 2026 in Kaduna.

The event, with the theme, “Justice for Everyone, Peace Everywhere,” brought together judges, legal practitioners, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and other justice sector stakeholders.

According to him, the importance of ADR in Nigeria’s legal system cannot be overemphasised as People require justice that is faster, private, efficient and effective.

“It is less costly than prolonged litigation and gives parties the opportunity to choose mechanisms best suited to resolving their disputes,” the attorney-general said.

He said the federal government had demonstrated its commitment to strengthening ADR through the Arbitration and Mediation Act, while Kaduna State established the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse to institutionalise alternative dispute resolution.

According to him, the state government is proposing a new Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse law to replace the existing legislation with provisions that align with current realities and international best practices.

Mr Kanyip said the proposed law would broaden access to justice by strengthening mediation, arbitration, conciliation, restorative justice, trauma healing and counselling as recognised dispute resolution mechanisms.

He added that the proposed legislation would empower the courthouse to receive referrals from courts and public institutions, maintain a register of accredited ADR practitioners, promote public awareness and provide training for stakeholders.

The commissioner said the reforms were aimed at reducing delays in the justice system, decongesting courts and encouraging amicable settlement of disputes.

He urged judges, lawyers and disputing parties to embrace ADR as a practical means of resolving conflicts while preserving relationships and promoting peaceful coexistence.

Earlier, the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Muhammad Aliyu, who declared the settlement week open, said the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse had become a critical institution in the state’s justice delivery system.

Mr Aliyu said the successful resolution of hundreds of disputes through amicable settlement reflected growing public confidence in ADR mechanisms.

He described Settlement Week as an opportunity for litigants to resolve disputes through dialogue in a structured and professionally guided environment.

“The willingness to dialogue and reach mutual understanding is not a sign of weakness but a mark of wisdom.

“I encourage judges and magistrates to continue referring appropriate cases to the Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouse, while legal practitioners should advise their clients to embrace ADR where necessary,” he said.

In a welcome address, the director of KDMDC, Justice Dorcas Daniel, said the annual initiative was designed to improve access to justice by providing litigants with a faster, confidential and cost-effective platform for dispute resolution.

Ms Daniel said the courthouse recorded significant achievements in the past year, including the amicable resolution of hundreds of cases, expansion of its panel of mediators, capacity building for judicial officers and strengthened partnerships with key justice sector institutions.

She added that the KDMDC had expanded community sensitisation across Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan senatorial zones, while integrating restorative justice, trauma healing and gender-responsive mediation into its operations.

According to her, these efforts have strengthened public confidence in ADR and contributed to the peaceful resolution of family, commercial, tenancy, inheritance and community disputes across the state.

The event was attended by judges of the Kaduna State High Court, magistrates, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), traditional and religious leaders, representatives of development partners and other stakeholders in the justice sector.

(NAN)