In a landmark partnership with the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), the administration of Governor Uba Sani has commenced a statewide Community Justice Centre Initiative designed to bring affordable, timely and people-centred justice closer to communities across Kaduna State.
The initiative was announced on Thursday by the Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, James Atung Kanyip, during a meeting of the Kaduna State and Local Governments Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) at the Ministry for Local Government Affairs.
Addressing Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Councils, Kanyip said the Kaduna State Government and HiiL are collaborating to establish Community Justice Centres that will provide accessible dispute-resolution services at the grassroots, helping citizens resolve conflicts quickly and at lower cost.
He explained that the centres will ease pressure on conventional courts, improve justice delivery and strengthen social harmony across communities.
According to him, the programme will begin with pilot centres in Kafanchan, Kaduna South and Sabon Gari, representing the state’s three senatorial zones, before expanding to all 23 local government areas.
The Attorney-General said the initiative reflects Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not a privilege reserved for a few, but a service available to every citizen regardless of location or financial status.
Observers say the partnership with HiiL, a globally recognised organisation known for promoting innovative justice solutions, could significantly transform grassroots dispute resolution in Kaduna State and serve as a model for other states across Nigeria.
For many residents, the initiative signals a new era in which justice moves from distant courtrooms to the doorsteps of ordinary citizens.
