Deepen ADR to attract oil, gas investments – Rhodes–Vivour

Nigeria has been advised to deepen its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice to resolve the intractable conflicts in the oil/gas sector in order to attract more investments. National chairman of the Nigerian branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, gave the advice while speaking at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute […]

Nigeria has been advised to deepen its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice to resolve the intractable conflicts in the oil/gas sector in order to attract more investments.
National chairman of the Nigerian branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, gave the advice while speaking at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in Port Harcourt on Thursday, November 10, 2016.
Rhodes-Vivour said the turbulence in the hydrocarbon industry would require effective and expeditious resolution of disputes in assuaging the effects of the downturn in the oil market.
She said there have emerged new phenomenon and new challenges in the arbitration plane such as third party funding currently generating debate in various jurisdictions in view of the need to ensure that ethical considerations or the transparency of process is not being impacted by the relatively new practice.
The chairman warned that if Nigeria was to take its rightful place as not only a preferred seat of arbitration but an investor-friendly country, it is imperative that the legislative regime for arbitration be in line with the latest developments in the international arbitration framework.
Nigeria must meet up to modern arbitration legal frameworks including multiple practice, consolidation of proceedings, concurrent hearings, emergency, proceedings, enforcement of interim measures/procedural orders, etc, ought to take cognizance of modern formats of entering into agreements such as electronic mails.
“It is long overdue for Nigeria to conduct a comprehensive review of all legislations which impact negatively on Nigeria’s attractiveness as an arbitration seat. Developing Nigeria into a favoured place of arbitration will enhance our country’s growth and economic development,” she said.
The president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce (PHCCIMA), Emi Membre-Otaji, a medical doctor and investor, said the members had suffered much through court trials with frustrations and high costs.
The event was declared open by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who in a keynote address, warned against  giving law enforcement agencies the latitude to abuse the fundamental rights of Nigerians  in the name of fighting  corruption. The governor said  though he supports the fight against  corruption, it must be done within the confines of the rule of law.
Chief Judge of Rivers State, Adama Iyayi-Laminkara, noted that the judiciary takes cognizance of the importance of arbitration  in the adjudication process.
The Attorney-General of the state an Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma, said he was not initially an advocate of ADR but that his officers had turned him into a new apostle and that many lawyers and judges have so far been trained in the new practice.