OkResidents of Imo State have been urged to embrace mediation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to resolve conflicts before they escalate into violence, as the state moves to deepen community-based access to justice.
The call came at the official handover of the Imo State Community Justice Centre (CJC) pilot project to its steering committee in Owerri over the weekend for replication across more communities in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Country Representative of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Dr. Ijeoma Nwafor, described the handover as more than the transfer of a project, saying it marked a call for every resident to become an active promoter of justice within their communities.
She noted that access to justice had long been perceived as costly, complicated and beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, but said the Community Justice Centre had demonstrated that bringing justice closer to the people enables disputes to be resolved before they develop into prolonged conflicts.
“Today’s ceremony is not only about a handover. It is a call for every citizen of Imo State to become an active builder of justice in our communities.
“For too long, access to justice has been seen as too costly, too complex and too far from the people. But the truth the Community Justice Centre has shown over the past year is that when justice is brought closer to people, disputes that could have divided us instead find resolution.
“When a dispute over land threatens to divide neighbours, let us choose mediation over confrontation. When conflict simmers within a family, let us choose dialogue before misunderstanding hardens into division. When someone we know is suffering in silence, let us guide them to help—not away from it,” she said.
Nwafor said the centre had strengthened justice delivery in the state through its Justice Clinics, the Justice Voice radio programme, outreach activities across the three senatorial zones and community-based mediation initiatives, helping hundreds of residents settle disputes before they escalated.
She urged communities to strengthen traditional and customary mediation systems, support local peace and justice structures, and encourage continuous dialogue among community leaders to prevent conflicts.
She also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and government officials to ensure the Community Justice Centre remains adequately funded, protected and replicated across more communities.
Chairman of the Community Justice Centre Steering Committee, Eze Jude Nwaogu, disclosed that the centre handled more than 180 justice-related cases within its first year of operation, successfully resolving about 110 through mediation, counselling, referrals and community-based interventions.
Nwaogu, who is the Chidiebube I of Egbelu Obube and Chairman of the Owerri North Council of Traditional Rulers, described the initiative as one of the most significant justice innovations in Imo State’s history.
“Today, the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law formally hands over to us, the Steering Committee, the centre it conceived, nurtured, funded and believed in from the very first idea. We are hopeful that we will replicate it across different communities,” he said.
He explained that the project was established to bridge the justice gap by providing residents with accessible legal information, advice, referrals and mediation services, stressing that it complements existing justice institutions by focusing on preventing disputes before they escalate.
According to him, land disputes accounted for the highest number of cases handled by the centre, while gender-based violence also ranked among the state’s most pressing justice challenges.
Nwaogu said the steering committee plans to strengthen institutional referrals, expand psychosocial support services, deepen collaboration with law enforcement agencies and extend the centre’s operations to more communities across the state.
He thanked HiiL, members of the steering committee and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
The event was attended by officials of the Imo State Ministries of Justice and Women Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Correctional Service, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
