General
G. Elias, LCIA Want More Adoption of Arbitration in Legal Disputes
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian business law firm, G. Elias, in collaboration with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), has called for increased use of arbitration as an effective option in settling legal disputes in Africa.
In arbitration, disputing sides agree to give their disagreement to one or more judges, who then make a final decision that both sides must follow. In essence, when the parties choose arbitration instead of going to court, they choose a private way to settle their disagreement.
At the LCIA West Africa Road Show 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria, the firms provided an overview of the international arbitration, highlighting key developments and their potential impact on businesses operating in Africa.
The discussion centred on the recent trends, considerations, and challenges of arbitration in Africa.
The event, themed Arbitration in commercial disputes: Some Trends, Considerations and Challenges brought together arbitration practitioners in-house counsel, legal practitioners, academics, and members of the business community to engage in insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of international arbitration.
The panel session considered the key considerations for choosing arbitration in commercial disputes, and explored the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration compared to other forms of dispute resolution, offering practical guidance on when arbitration might be the most suitable option.
Also, insights on the common challenges encountered in international arbitration proceedings and best practices for overcoming them were elaborated on.
Speaking at the event, Mr Okechukwu Okoro, Deputy Managing Partner, G. Elias said, “We are delighted to have partnered with the LCIA to bring this important event to Lagos. Arbitration is an increasingly popular method for resolving commercial disputes in Africa, and it is crucial that businesses are aware of the latest trends, considerations, and challenges in this area.
“As Nigeria’s business landscape continues to grow, we believe that robust arbitration mechanisms are essential for fostering trust and confidence in cross-border transactions. This event is a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among key stakeholders in the Nigerian legal community.”
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the LCIA, Director General, London Court of International Arbitration, Mr Jacomijn Van Haersolte-Van Hof, said, “Thank you G-Elias for hosting this event because what we want as an institution is an effective arbitration. Of course, we promote LCIA arbitration, our first goal is, however, to promote efficient and effective arbitration. To that effect, we have created the LCIA Organisation in London. I have learnt a lot during the Panel session, and I am sure that we all will stay committed to ensuring the effectiveness of arbitration.”
The Panel session was moderated by Mr Ayodeji Adeyanju; Senior Associate, G. Elias had the following panel members: Mr Jide Adesokan (Partner, Stephenson Harwood); Ms Noella Lubano (Partner, Oraro and Company Advocates); Mr Oluropo Okunmuyide (Head Litigation and Dispute Resolution, First Bank Nigeria Limited); and Mr Abubakar Anafi (Partner, G Elias).
The panellists charged arbitrators to be independent, impartial, and neutral while they also need to be firm and use modern clauses from recognized institutions such as the LCIA. They also charged arbitrators to leverage technology but should be cyber security conscious by being cautious of the potential risks of using technology such as hacking, technology illiteracy, virtual hearing, and data privacy breachers.
To improve arbitration in Nigeria, the panellists charged the government to provide regular training for arbitration judges, amend the constitution, implement the effectiveness of cost sanctions for parties and ensure that the court is very aware and savvy about arbitration in allowing enforcement.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Datti Baba-Ahmed, has left the party to join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the politician said he’s no longer interested in the way the Labour Party was being run.
He disclosed that there is no more peace in the political party he flew its flag in the last general elections because of greed.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of destabilising opposition political parties to ensure President Bola Tinubu does not have a credible opponent in the 2027 presidential poll.
“What the Labour Party stood for is not the same now. We have a government of today which is interested in destroying other political parties,” he said.
“I am leaving the Labour Party tomorrow (today) by 12 midnight,” Mr Baba-Ahmed said when asked about his plans for next year.
I am leaving the Labour Party [at] midnight, and I am joining PRP. PRP is the new destination. PRP is the one with a history. It’s about 75 years old,” he further stated.
He further said, “When there was real peace in the Labour Party, someone was redeployed to the Labour Party and because of the antecedents of the person, [I don’t see things getting better].
PRP, a progressive Nigerian political party, was established in 1978 by Mallam Aminu Kano. It is rooted in social democratic principles and populist ideology, often focusing on the empowerment of the talakawa (common people).
Its current National Chairman, according to data obtained from the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is Mr Falalu Bello, while the National Secretary is Mr Babatunde F. Alli.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, has highlighted strategies deployed by her organisation to ensure pension coverage is deepened in Nigeria.
Speaking at the ISSA Technical Seminar in Abuja recently, she said the steps taken were to build a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive pension system, where communication serves not just as information, but as a bridge to trust, accessibility, and sustained industry growth.
According to her, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has, over more than two decades, built a strong institutional foundation, but true inclusion goes beyond coverage to require trust and clear communication.
For this reason, PenCom has prioritised the Personal Pension Plan, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and invested in digital channels that reach contributors in accessible and relatable ways, she stated.
Ms Oloworaran further stressed that, “Effective communication is not a soft complement to regulation; it is a core instrument of coverage expansion, compliance, and public confidence.
“Every circular we issue, every benefit we pay, and every reform we introduce ultimately succeeds or fails on whether our members can understand it and act on it.”
The ISSA Technical Seminar, themed Improving Inclusivity and Accessibility of Social Security Services Through Effective Communication, was organised in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA).
It brought together key stakeholders across West Africa to advance dialogue on strengthening social security systems through clearer, more inclusive engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Former Minister of Power, Mr Barth Nnaji, has run to the rooftop to declare that Nigeria has not secured financing for any major power plant in more than a decade, blaming policy reversals and weak government commitment for the prolonged investment drought.
Speaking at the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics conference in Lagos, Mr Nnaji said the country’s power sector lost momentum after a promising financing framework introduced under his watch was abandoned following a change in administration.
According to him, the partial risk guarantee instrument developed jointly with former Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had begun attracting international investors by reducing the risks associated with power projects in Nigeria.
“The world was galloping to us to finance power plants because we were getting a service guarantee,” he said, noting that the framework helped secure funding for the Azura-Edo Power Station, one of Nigeria’s most significant independent power projects.
However, he said the policy was scrapped after the administration changed, abruptly halting investor interest.
“Till today, we have not financed any new major power plant in Nigeria. That’s about 11 years ago,” he said.
Mr Nnaji argued that policy inconsistency remains one of the biggest obstacles to power sector growth, without clear, stable and bankable policies.
He said Nigeria will continue to struggle to attract the long-term capital required for large-scale electricity projects.
He also urged Nigeria to adopt a pragmatic approach to energy transition, stressing that natural gas should remain the backbone of the country’s power strategy. With more than 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, he said Nigeria is well-positioned to use gas as a bridge fuel for industrialisation and economic growth over the next two decades.
Yet, despite these vast reserves, inadequate infrastructure continues to constrain supply.
Mr Nnaji noted that the Nigeria LNG Limited is operating at only about 60 per cent of capacity due to insufficient gas availability, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in gas production, processing and transportation.
He also cited the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station as a symbol of Nigeria’s execution failures. Although technically viable, the project has remained on the drawing board for more than 40 years because of weak political will and inconsistent implementation.
He noted that Nigeria’s power challenge is not a lack of resources but a failure of execution. With an installed generation capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, the country still produces only 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts on average. Until policy becomes consistent and infrastructure investment accelerates, reliable electricity will remain frustratingly out of reach for millions of Nigerians.
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