Lagos CMC resolves 36,788 dispute cases in 10 months

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre, CMC, at the weekend said it has resolved amicably 36,788 dispute cases between January and October, 2018.

The Director, CMC, Mrs Omotola Rotimi  disclosed this during a Road Show to sensitise residents of Lagos on the need to embrace tolerance as part of activities marking this year’s World Tolerance Day, held in Yaba area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to her, the CMC had handled 40,875 dispute cases and resolved amicably about 90 percent of such cases, which amounted to 36,788 cases resolved amicably.

Cases resolved include majorly landlord-tenant dispute, property inheritance, marital dispute, child custody, monetary claims, among others.

She said the centre was interested in decongesting the prisons and police cells, saying that people had now come to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, rather than going to court.

Omotola, however, charged residents of the state to embrace tolerance for peaceful and harmonious co-existence.

The CMC boss said the World Tolerance Day was celebrated to sensitise people on the need for tolerance which could solve the problems of nations, cities, among others if embraced.

Rotimi said tolerance at home would help to halt domestic violence, rape and child molestation and called on parents and guardians to ensure that they embrace tolerance in their domains.

She added that tolerance at the motor parks would prevent hooliganism and frequent union clashes occurring in several motor parks across Lagos, adding that tolerance at workplaces would help to build harmonious environment, which would lead to productivity.

“There is need for tolerance at the workplaces because there is bound to be dispute. In the market places, tolerance will make traders to live in peace and prevent frequent fighting. Drivers too should learn to tolerate one another for peace to reign,” she said.

According to her, tolerance would certainly reduce the number of cases in court as people would learn to understand each other.

Rotimi, however, said the CMC team had gone round Yaba to sensitise residents on tolerance, while being optimistic that people would embrace this great virtue that could usher in peace in the community and in the world.

“Tolerance will save lives; it will prevent fathers killing their own children. With tolerance, we will reduce the number of domestic violence at home,” she said.