International alert urges establishment of ADR centres in three Northwest States
Sidi Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau
International Alert, a nongovernmental organization, has called for the establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centres in Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States to fast-track justice delivery and reduce congestion in conventional courts.
The organisation, which supported the passage of the Dispute Resolution Centre Bill in the three states, made the appeal during the closing ceremony of a capacity-building training for judicial stakeholders on ADR, held in Gusau.
Programme Manager of International Alert, Mr. Sunday Jimoh Momoh—represented by Mr. Stephen John—said the initiative is part of the organisation’s collaboration with state assemblies to institutionalize ADR mechanisms that are faster, more affordable, and more accessible to citizens, especially vulnerable groups.
He noted that conventional courts often face delays and backlogs, adding that the introduction of ADR centres would significantly ease pressure on the judiciary.
“The objective is to ensure consistency and standardization across ADR processes,” Momoh said. “When fully established, these centres will provide clear workflows and timelines for case handling, enabling staffers to amicably resolve disputes brought before them.”
According to him, the system will include monitoring mechanisms, performance indicators, regular reporting, stakeholder reviews, and compliance checks as reflected in the states’ Standard Operational Procedures (SOP).
The training, held at Ja’iz Hotel, brought together judges, mediators, community leaders, ADR staff, and psychosocial support teams from the three states, equipping them with strategies for fast and effective dispute resolution.
In a goodwill message, the Director of Legal Services at the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Barr. Bello Aliyu Gummi, who spoke on behalf of the participating Houses of Assembly, commended International Alert for its financial and technical support throughout the drafting and passage of the ADR Centre Bill.
Participants from the three states expressed satisfaction with the benefits of ADR, noting that it offers an amicable and non-adversarial approach to dispute resolution. They unanimously pledged to promote ADR practices within their respective states.