FG urged to train police, traditional, religious leaders in conflict mediation

Calls are mounting for Nigeria to rethink how everyday disputes are resolved, as stakeholders push for formal mediation training for those who often serve as first responders to conflicts across communities.

The The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has urged the Federal Government to introduce structured conflict mediation training for police officers, as well as traditional and religious leaders, arguing that they already play a central role in resolving disputes despite lacking formal expertise.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, HiiL’s country representative, Ijeoma Nwafor, said the reality of Nigeria’s justice system is that many citizens turn first to informal channels before approaching legal professionals.

According to her, individuals frequently seek help from the police, community leaders, pastors, and even their spouses when conflicts arise, raising questions about the quality and consistency of mediation outcomes.

“For instance, most people run to the police to resolve their justice needs before they look for lawyers,” she said, questioning whether officers handling such cases are adequately trained mediators.

She added that being a religious or community leader does not automatically translate to possessing the skills required for effective dispute resolution.

Bridging the gap between formal and informal justice systems

Nwafor stressed that integrating mediation training into institutions like the Police Academy, while also equipping traditional and religious leaders with structured skills, would significantly improve how conflicts are handled at the grassroots level.

She also proposed a hybrid model where trained lawyers could supervise mediation efforts carried out by community leaders, ensuring that informal dispute resolution aligns with established legal standards.

The recommendation comes amid growing recognition of the role informal systems play in Nigeria’s justice ecosystem. While formal courts remain central, many disputes, especially at the community level, are settled outside the courtroom due to accessibility, cost, and cultural familiarity.

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According to Nwafor, Nigeria produces over 7,000 lawyers annually, suggesting that better integration of legal professionals into community-based resolution systems could create new opportunities while strengthening justice delivery.

Rising complexity of conflicts

Beyond structural reforms, HiiL highlighted the evolving nature of conflicts in Nigeria, noting that issues such as land disputes, family matters, gender-based violence, and farmer-herder clashes require more sophisticated mediation approaches.

The organisation, which collaborates with groups like the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Federation of Women Lawyers Nigeria, said it is actively working on solutions across these areas.

Nwafor acknowledged that while justice administration in Nigeria has improved over time, it still needs to better accommodate the informal sector, which continues to handle a large share of disputes.

She also noted that although HiiL does not directly intervene in security-related conflicts, the growing overlap between criminality, ethnicity, and communal disputes, particularly in farmer-herder crises, has intensified tensions nationwide.

For policymakers, the message is clear: strengthening mediation capacity at the grassroots level could ease pressure on the formal justice system while helping to de-escalate conflicts before they spiral into violence.