International Commercial Arbitration Centre set up in Nigeria.

Accra (Greater Accra) 22 April

 An Centre to promote international commercial arbitration in Africa has been established in Lagos, Nigeria.

The centre, known as "Lagos Centre", was set up under the auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC).

A draft law relating to the establishment and existence of the Lagos Centre will be promulgated before May, this year. These were made known on Wednesday when Mrs Eunice R. Oddiri, acting director of the centre, presented her report at the on-going five-day 38th annual session of the AALCC in Accra.

The Nigerian government has given its blessing to the siting of the centre in Lagos and an agreement to that effect is expected to be signed between the AALCC and the government on Monday, April 26, she said.

Outlining the objectives of the Centre, Mrs Oddiri said it would co-ordinate and assist in the activities of existing arbitral institutions, particularly those in Africa. It would also render assistance to other national arbitral bodies, enforcement of arbitral awards and get involved in an advisory role in the drafting of arbitration laws.

In order to popularise the Centre, workshops, seminars and conferences have been held in the past year, and another seminar has been slated for April 28, this year.

Mrs Oddiri said the Lagos Centre would be a force to reckon with in Africa in the next millennium.

Deliberations at the session are being presided over by Mr Martin Amidu, Deputy Attorney-General who was elected AALCC president on Monday.