In a renewed push to ease the burden on courts and promote amicable conflict resolution, the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) has announced plans to provide free mediation for over 1,000 disputes across the state during the 2025 Lagos Statewide Settlement Week (LSSW).
Scheduled to run from July 14 to 18, the initiative aims to enhance access to justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and support faster, more inclusive ways of resolving civil disputes. Proceedings will take place simultaneously at five High Court divisions—TBS, Osborne, Tapa, Ikeja, and Ikorodu—as well as local government offices in Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Lagos Island, and Ikorodu.
Chairperson of the Lagos Settlement Week Committee, Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, who spoke at a press briefing on Lagos Island, said the programme will focus on key sectors such as finance, micro and small businesses, entertainment, grassroots sports, and public institutions.
“This is more than a week of mediation,” she said. “It is a transformative civic initiative aimed at decentralising access to justice and encouraging peaceful dispute resolution outside of traditional courts.”
She added that technology would play a central role in this year’s edition, with virtual mediation sessions enabling wider participation for those unable to attend physically.
Justice Ipaye highlighted the LMDC’s track record, noting that the centre has recovered over ₦53.7 billion, $141 million, and €14,000 in claims since inception. She added that referrals to ADR increased by 280% over the past decade, underscoring growing public trust in alternative justice pathways.
The initiative, she said, aligns with the THEMES+ agenda of the Lagos State Government, particularly its emphasis on improving service delivery, investor confidence, and community engagement.
Also speaking at the event, Justice Jumoke Pedro, Chairperson of the LMDC Governing Council, described the centre as a pioneer in ADR innovation across Africa. She noted that since its establishment in 2002, the LMDC has resolved more than 12,500 cases using mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation, and hybrid methods.
“Over 7,000 of those disputes have been successfully mediated,” Justice Pedro said. “We’ve created a dependable framework for both court-referred and walk-in matters, supported by a vetted panel of experts and a robust post-settlement system.”
She further revealed that LMDC’s training arm has equipped hundreds of mediators and legal professionals with globally recognized skills in dispute resolution.
Justice Pedro called on stakeholders across the legal, corporate, and government sectors to leverage the LMDC’s services. “Our ambition is to make Lagos the ADR hub of Africa—one that delivers not only justice, but peace, speed, and certainty,” she added.
In her welcome address, LMDC Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Achere Cole, described LSSW 2025 as a milestone in Lagos’ justice reform journey. She thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Chief Judge of Lagos State for supporting the initiative.
“This Settlement Week is a symbol of our collective commitment to social harmony, access to justice, and the ease of doing business,” Cole said.
Participation forms for the 2025 Settlement Week are available online via the LMDC website and physically at its offices in Onikan, Ikeja, and Ikorodu.
As Lagos continues to lead justice innovation in Nigeria, organisers of the LSSW called on the public to embrace mediation as a practical, efficient, and relationship-preserving solution to conflict.
