The Bayelsa State government has declared its readiness to partner the judiciary and other critical stakeholders to create more public awareness and acceptance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a means of settling conflicts.
Diri made the declaration at the opening ceremony of the second Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse stakeholders sensitization conference, held in Yenagoa, with the theme “Policy Dialogue On Justice Reforms”.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, the governor described ADR as a viable option for resolving disputes among individuals, groups and corporate organizations.
He listed some of its benefits to include time saving and cost cost reduction in conflict resolution as well as preservation of peace in communities.
While acknowledging the relevance of the traditional courts in the administration of justice, Diri canvassed for increased use of ADR, stressing that it was not only faster and fairer but also within the reach of the ordinary citizens of any society.
Commenting on the conference theme, he said the policy dialogue on justice reforms along the corridors of ADR was not meant for government and the judiciary alone.
He said it was for all stakeholders cutting across the traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and the masses to embrace ADR.
he charged the participants to make commitments they could uphold at the end of the conference, noting that the goal of the reforms would only take root if they were embraced by the Nigerian Bar and amplified by the traditional institutions and civil society groups.
His words: ” It is a privilege to stand before this distinguished gathering to declare open the second Stakeholders Sensitization Conference of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse.
“That we have returned for a second edition is itself a statement of intent that the conversation about ADR in our State is not a one-off ceremony, but a deliberate, sustained reform.
“Our theme, ‘Policy Dialogue on Justice Reforms,’ and our topic, ‘Re-Imagining Justice in Bayelsa,’ could not be timelier.
“For too long, our people have understood justice as something distant and slow, a long wait in crowded court rooms, mounting costs, and outcomes that too often leave relationships more broken than before.
“To re-imagine justice is to insist that it can be different: faster, fairer, more humane, and within reach of the ordinary citizen.
“That is the promise of the Multi Door Courthouse. The very name carries the idea that the courtroom is not the only door to justice. Mediation is a door. Arbitration is a door. Conciliation and negotiation are also doors.
“The Multi Door Courthouse opens these alternative pathways so that disputes can be resolved on terms that preserve dignity, save time, reduce cost, and keep our communities at peace. In a State like ours, where harmony among communities is precious, this is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
“This administration, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, has consistently held that development and the rule of law are inseparable. There can be no lasting prosperity where citizens do not trust that their grievances will be heard and fairly settled. Investors look for it. Communities depend on it. Families are held together or torn apart by it.
“Strengthening alternative dispute resolution is therefore not a matter of lawyers alone; it is a matter of public good, and government remains a committed partner in this work.
Also speaking, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, said the National Judicial Policy now recognized ADR as a critical tool for improving access to justice and reducing delays in judicial proceedings.
Ayemieye noted that the Bayelsa multi-door courthouse had emerged as a strategic institution within the justice architecture, representing a deliberate shift from a justice system defined solely by litigation to one that prioritizes problem-solving, consensus-building, and timely outcomes.
In his welcome remarks, the chairman of the conference planning committee, King Collins Ebi-Daniel, remarked that the conference provided an invaluable platform for reflection, engagement, and the exchange of ideas on the future of justice administration in Bayelsa and beyond.
According to him, the thrust of the dialogue reflected the collective need to re-examine and strengthen the justice delivery system through effective utilization of the multi-door caourthouse as a vehicle for promoting accessible, efficient and citizen-centered justice.
In his goodwill message, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), described the event as a sustained commitment to strengthen justice reforms and expand the frontiers of ADR in the State.
