The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has handed over three pilot Community Justice Centres established under the Kad-Adalci initiative to the Kaduna government.

The centres, located in Tudun Wada, Kafanchan and Zaria, are expected to improve access to affordable, timely and fair dispute resolution for residents across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The handover ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Justice Muhammadu Bello Bar Centre in Kaduna, with representatives of government agencies, the judiciary, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in attendance.

Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court said the initiative represented a new approach to justice delivery that put citizens’ needs at the centre.

She said many disputes involving families, neighbours and small businesses could be resolved through mediation, negotiation or referral to relevant agencies without necessarily commencing court proceedings.

According to her, the centres are designed to give citizens a first point of contact where they can explain their grievances, understand available options, and receive guidance on how to resolve their disputes.

“Kad-Adalci is not intended to replace the courts but to complement the formal justice system by resolving suitable disputes before they escalate into complex litigation,” she said.

Ms Bello added that information generated from the centres could help the judiciary and government identify recurring disputes in communities and emerging challenges requiring intervention.

Kaduna’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, James Kanyip, described access to justice as a fundamental right that should be available to all citizens irrespective of their social or economic status.

Mr Kanyip said the Kad-Adalci initiative was developed through collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions and other stakeholders.

He commended HiiL for its support and investment in the pilot project, saying the initiative had evolved from efforts to strengthen community awareness and referral mechanisms into a model with potential for wider application.

The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to support justice-sector reforms and collaborate with relevant institutions to sustain the centres and consider expanding the initiative to other parts of the state.

HiiL country representative in Nigeria, Ijeoma Nwafor, said the handover was not merely a project transfer but an opportunity for communities to take ownership of justice initiatives.

Mr Nwafor urged residents to embrace dialogue, mediation and early intervention in resolving disputes. She also called on traditional rulers, lawyers, mediators, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the effective operation of the centres.

(NAN)