For a long time, the settlement of disputes by adversarial contest had dominated the judicial landscape of the nation. Litigants and Lawyers as principal actors in this scene encouraged inspired and pursued litigation whether for good, for bad or for no cause at all. Expectedly, the result so far has been painful. For instance, numerous court adjournments keep conflict fresh in the mind of litigants, disputants are kept away from their jobs and means of livelihood, most importantly, friendship and good neighbourliness which make for peaceful co -existence of people are lost in the process of observing the extensive rituals associated with the search for justice which in the end may not come. The grave consequence of the foregoing is the avoidable threat it has posed to the commerce and tourism development of States. More to the point, its greater effect is the challenging implication it has continued to generate for all its vital institutions, particularly the judiciary. In 1996, The NCMG embarked on a campaign to establish, replicate and develop tailor made court-connected Multi-Door Courthouses anchored on Alternative Dispute to promote the resolution of disputes in an atmosphere free of acrimony and contestations. A Court-Connected Multi-Door Courthouse is a Centre where different dispute resolution doors are available for the resolution of disputes within the Court system. Through a systemic process of sensitization of the Judiciary, Bar, corporate organisations, government and public through workshops, networking, seminars and conferences, The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (the first court-connected ADR Centre in Africa) was established in June, 2002 followed by its subsequent replication by the judiciary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in November 2003. In 2006, the Kano followed suit and is currently under review by the NCMG. In 2008, the NCMG embarked on an 18 month World Bank sponsored project in collaboration with the ADR Centre in Italy on “Expanding ADR Institutions & Mechanisms in Nigeria” this project has also led to the beginnings of the establishment of Multi-Door Courthouses in Abia and Kaduna States in Nigeria. We continue to promote awareness on the use of the Multi-Door Courthouse through

• Awareness Workshops for Judiciaries, the Bar, Corporate Counsel, SME Managers and business practitioners
• In September 2009 we will begin the Conduct of a 10 month survey of the effectiveness of the Multi-Door Courthouse in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, Abia and Kaduna States
• In July 2010 we will organise a conference to announce and discuss the results of the project which will form a basis for models to be used in further replications
• Organisation of ‘The Settlement Week” in collaboration with State Judiciaries and Mediation Centres 

The MDC Program is ongoing and we will continue to reach out to more states in Nigeria and other African countries until we achieve our aim of having Alternative Dispute Resolution predominantly entrenched in the Judiciaries and cultures of people in Africa and thereby contributing to a change in our culture of dispute resolution from aggression to accommodation and thus increase confidence in the capabilities of the African Justice Sector.