Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has described the state as the most peaceful in Nigeria, with the lowest crime rate, attributing the achievement to efforts aimed at sustaining law, order and stability.
Diri said this on Thursday at the Second Stakeholders Sensitisation Conference of the Multi-Door Courthouse in Yenagoa, where participants discussed justice reforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Bayelsa.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Peter Akpe, the governor said that the Multi-Door Courthouse was an important institution that provided alternatives to litigation and strengthened citizens’ access to justice.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the judiciary and promoting reforms that enhance efficient justice delivery and sustain public confidence in the legal system.
The Chief Judge of Bayelsa and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Multi-Door Courthouse, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, said the institution had benefited citizens through affordable and accessible services.
She said the system had also reduced the number of cases handled by conventional courts, helping to ease congestion and improve the overall efficiency of justice administration.
Ayemieye thanked the executive and legislative arms for enacting the law establishing the Multi-Door Courthouse and appealed to the governor to provide adequate funding support.
She described the conference theme, “Policy Dialogue on Justice Reforms: Re-Imagining Justice in Bayelsa,” as timely and compelling, urging stakeholders to view justice delivery from citizens’ perspectives.
“Justice is the foundation of social order, economic confidence, democratic government and sustainable development.
“No society can attain its full potential where disputes remain unresolved, rights remain unenforced, or citizens lose confidence in the institutions established to protect them.
“Across Nigeria, the challenge of case congestion and delays continues to place significant pressure on the courts.
“Reports indicate that superior courts across the federation continue to grapple with substantial case backlogs, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches to dispute resolution,” she said.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), said the Multi-Door Courthouse offered litigants an alternative path to justice through peaceful resolution and conciliation.
Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, King Collins Daniel, said the conference was organised to sensitise stakeholders to the benefits of the Multi-Door Courthouse and justice reforms.
Daniel said that Bayelsa occupied a unique place in Nigeria’s history as the site of the Akassa Raid and home to Oloibiri, where oil was first discovered commercially.
Guest speaker, Prof. Dorothy Ufot (SAN), advocated building a strong culture of alternative dispute resolution and called for its integration into judicial and governance systems nationwide.
She also urged reforms in court registries, describing them as the engine room of the judiciary, and emphasised that investing in the justice sector would benefit the government.
Ufot said dispute resolution remained one of the easiest ways to resolve conflicts and foster development, adding that mediation promoted mutually acceptable outcomes between disputing parties.
According to her, mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where a neutral third party facilitates communication and negotiation between parties seeking amicable resolution of disputes.
“Unlike a judge or arbitrator, the mediator does not make a binding decision; instead, they facilitate conversation to help parties resolve issues themselves,” she said.
NAN
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