Slow courts are costing Nigeria investment – Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has called on judges and judicial officers nationwide to accelerate the handling of commercial disputes, stressing that timely justice is essential to keeping businesses afloat and attracting investment.

Fagbemi made the appeal on Friday at the opening session of the 2025 conference of the Network of Justice Sector Reform Teams (NJSRT) in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The gathering brought together representatives of key institutions working to improve justice delivery across the country.

The minister said that resolving commercial conflicts promptly requires seamless coordination across the justice sector, beginning with stronger pre-litigation engagement and wider use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to prevent already overstretched courts from being burdened with avoidable cases.

Describing the conference theme,“Interoperability between Access to Justice and the Ease of Doing Business,” as highly relevant, Fagbemi noted that it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises investor confidence, job creation, and sustainable economic expansion.

He argued that a functioning economy cannot exist without a justice system that is predictable, efficient, and trusted by citizens and investors alike. According to him, improving the business environment is not only about reforming administrative processes but also about strengthening legal protections and ensuring that disputes are handled transparently and quickly.

Fagbemi said: “It is our responsibility to assure the small business owner in Lafia, the tech innovator in Lagos, and the international investor in London that their rights will be respected, their agreements upheld, and any disagreement resolved without unnecessary delay.”

He lamented that Nigeria’s justice system continues to be viewed as slow and intimidating, a perception that he said inflates business costs, discourages innovation, and scares off long-term investment.

The minister commended the Nasarawa State Government for its efforts to modernise justice delivery, especially through the establishment of a Family Court, which fully aligns the state’s judiciary with its Child Rights Law.

He also emphasised the importance of the NJSRT, describing the reform teams as strategic engines for improving justice delivery at state level. He challenged delegates to develop measurable targets, including reducing the average timeline for commercial cases, embedding ADR into routine court procedures, and leveraging technology to support small and medium-sized enterprises.