Philip Ayodele, third right and othersl

Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it would soon establish mediation centres on conflict resolution across the 20 local government and 37 local development areas of Ogun State.

The State Commandant of NSCDC, Philip Ayodele, disclosed this on Thursday, during the Peace and Conflict Management Department of the command’s first half of the year meeting, held in Abeokuta.

Ayodele explained that it was important for the NSCDC to have a base across the state where crises and issues concerning individuals, organisations and agencies could be resolved.

He added that the peace and conflict resolution unit in the command was created to serve as a medium to be able to respond to different cases, without necessarily engaging the services of lawyers or going to court.

The state commandant noted that the NSCDC was trying to bring peace closer to the people and also find alternative means to resolve criss.

“Over 306 conflicts were reported for the first half of the year; total conflicts mediated on was 263 while a total of 130 conflict cases was resolved.

“We resolved over 46 monetary cases , 45 land dispute cases handled and over 61 marital /family disputes resolved among others. Ordinarily if these cases are taken to court, they are going to take time.

“NSCDC has the alternative dispute resolution, on which we are trying to partner other agencies to see that we create mediation centres in all the local government areas of the state.

“We are trying to ensure that we have a base where we try to resolve crisis and issues in the state.

“Based on our records, the cases we have attended to, we are more than satisfied, ” he said.

In his submission, Mr Akinropo Omoware, Advisor, Private Sector Department, GIZ, Abuja, said that the Organisation was working on creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

Omoware noted that the GIZ was concerned with the issue of commercial dispute resolution, saying that the organisation had decided to support NSCDC in its mission to mediate in crisis.

“We felt we need to support them in terms of training their members in dispute resolution system and not only them but the Ministry of Justice and Multi door court house and Organisations that works in this direction, “he said.