The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary has endorsed mediation as a viable alternative to litigation to improve access to justice and reduce the burden on conventional courts.

The initiative, designed to promote timely, cost-effective, and non-adversarial dispute resolution, will kick off with the Abuja Settlement Week at the Abuja Multi-Door Courthouse (AMDC), High Court complex, Gudu, from July 7.

The programme is being organised by the Abuja Branch of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), in collaboration with the AMDC, under the auspices of the Chief Judge of the FCT.

Tagged “Promoting peace, encouraging mediation and delivering Justice,” the event forms part of a broader judicial reform agenda aimed at decongesting court dockets and prison facilities while encouraging a culture of dialogue and reconciliation in resolving civil disputes.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the organisers, the Abuja Settlement Week will feature both free and subsidised mediation services covering a broad range of matters including family, workplace, land, and commercial disputes. Professional mediators—referred to as neutrals—will be available to manage cases referred by the courts as well as walk-in matters.

The chairman of the ICMC Abuja Branch described the initiative as “a movement towards institutionalising peace in how we handle conflict,” noting that mediation “offers an effective pathway to justice without confrontation.”

Beyond dispute resolution, the week-long programme will also feature public enlightenment campaigns and community outreach aimed at deepening awareness of mediation and encouraging citizens to embrace alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The organisers added that the effort is expected to strengthen collaboration among legal professionals, justice sector institutions, and community leaders.