Adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADR): Towards ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in the dispensation of justice, Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, such as Mediation,
Arbitration and Early Neutral Evaluation were put in place. This was also
to reduce the workload of conventional courts, decongest the court
dockets as well as limit excessive cost and undue delays in accessing
justice. This Multi-Door Courthouse system is being tried in Lagos and
Abuja; it offers the judges a chance to encourage litigants to use the
best “door” appropriate to their circumstances.
Judicial Reforms: In order to address the challenges facing the Judiciary such as infrastructural deficiencies, procedural inefficiencies, corruption, poor conditions of service, archaic system of recording and filing, as well as delays in the dispensation of justice, the Chief Justice of
the Federation, in October, 2011 constituted a 28 man judicial reform
committee made up of retired Chief Justices of the Federation and renowned legal luminaries, to deliberate on the need to restore peoples’
confidence in the judiciary. More courts are also being built across the
nation.
3.1.4 Nigeria has not been involved in any inter-state conflict since the International Court of Justice ruling on the dispute between Nigeria and Cameroun over
the ownership of the Bakassi Peninsular. On the other hand, Nigeria continues
to lead and make enormous human, material and financial sacrifices to resolve sub-regional, regional and international conflicts.
36