We mean business… and we are now in the business of arbitration – Gov. Fashola

The Lagos State government has reiterated its resolve to promote business in the state through the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, who made this pronouncement at the official opening of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA)‘International Centre for Arbitration & ADR,’ reiterated the unique position of Lagos as an international destination and neutral seat for the future of dispute resolution in Africa.

Declaring the LCA open, Fashola said the state was formally ready for the business of arbitration and ADR in Africa, and ready to lead for the rest of Africa to follow.

He said: “Our vision was to establish and endow a dispute resolution hub with the aim of promoting and servicing the domestic, regional, continental and international commercial dispute industry with a full complement of ADR services, and today, I proudly declare this ‘The Lagos Court of Arbitration: International Centre for Arbitration & ADR’ open for business.”

A private sector driven public service and developmental project, the LCA operates an internationally recognised and domestically suited dispute resolution services, while acting as a catalyst for the growth of the industry. The LCA is an integral part of the promise of rule of law; built as a pillar of economic development not just in Lagos, Nigeria, but also in Africa.

The President of the LCA and Former Attorney General of the state, Olasupo Shasore, SAN, who was there with the Governor to open the edifice, spoke of the reforms that saw the creation of the LCA and its development so far.

According to him, the court was designed to be a bold continental entity, independent of public sector control while itself providing a public service.

He said: “The LCA is an asset for national productivity, legal certainty, a stable and predictable enforcement of obligation framework, a reliable mechanism for the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts are all features of the rule of law which drives national productivity.”

Shasore, who was a part of the conceptual stages of the LCA, disclosed that at the point of its conception, when the blueprint for the LCA was drawn up, he did not envision that he would one day have to provide services for the LCA.

The LCA was part of a holistic dispute resolution programme borne out of a series of policy dialogues between Governor Fashola, the current President and few others. The idea was to lay the marker for an African centre.

The President of the court further appealed to the Lagos State government to connect the LCA to the Lekki IPP for stable electricity, stating that the public and users of the Court would forever be appreciative of this administration and for this public initiative.

“In future, within these walls, along these corridors, inside these hearing rooms we will witness tentative procedural conferences, confrontation of pleadings and the innocence evidence, hostility of cross examination, guile of arguments, huddled hushed discussions towards settlement and frankness of awards and decisions,” Shasore said.

Continuing he said: “Above all, this facility will bring the satisfaction of a remedy – a solution desired by the parties respected by all and good for society.”

In closing, the former attorney general of the state congratulated all those who worked for the actualisation of the project, extending profound appreciation to the Governor and his administration for what he called a “Profound Made-in-Africa Success”!