Arbitration Practice in Nigeria: Managing Commercial Disputes Effectively under the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023

The Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 represents a landmark reform of Nigeria's alternative dispute resolution framework, replacing the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1988 and bringing the country's arbitration law into closer alignment with the UNCITRAL Model Law. For legal and business professionals, understanding the practical management implications of this reformed legislative landscape is essential to effective commercial dispute resolution. This study examines the management of arbitration proceedings under the 2023 Act, focusing on practical procedure, institutional arbitration administration, and enforcement of awards. A professional practitioner methodology was adopted, drawing on structured interviews with twenty commercial arbitrators registered with the Lagos Court of Arbitration and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria. Secondary sources include the text of the 2023 Act, LCA procedural rules, published arbitral awards, and comparative regional arbitration studies from 2022 to 2024. Findings indicate that the 2023 Act's emergency arbitrator provisions and enhanced court support mechanisms represent significant operational improvements for practitioners. However, awareness of the Act's new provisions among corporate counsel outside Lagos and Abuja remains limited. Recommendations include professional development programmes targeting in-house counsel across geopolitical zones, development of model institutional arbitration clauses for standard commercial agreements, and enhanced judicial training on the Act's court interface provisions. This research equips legal professionals with practical guidance on arbitration management under Nigeria's reformed framework. Keywords: arbitration, Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023, commercial disputes, ADR, institutional arbitration.