Arbitration: 2025 Wrap-Up and 2026 Outlook

We are pleased to share our Arbitration: 2025 Wrap-Up and 2026 Outlook.

Our 2025 wrap‑up reflects continued evolution and international alignment of Nigeria’s arbitration ecosystem, as courts doubled down on finality, recognised the seat’s primacy in the setting aside of foreign‑seated awards, and narrowed public‑policy defences to enforcement. Also, our review highlights notable contributions from arbitral institutions and growing divergence among jurisdictions on sovereign consent to arbitrate and assignability of ICSID award.

Looking forward to 2026, our projections are a firmly pro‑arbitration stance by Nigerian Courts, tighter scrutiny of arbitrator disclosure and impartiality obligations, greater use of mediation and ART, and a busier dispute pipeline for arbitration. The disputes that are set to grow include shareholder, M&A, investor‑state, energy, mining, construction, PPP, ESG and climate disputes.

Overall, the arbitration community and other stakeholders can approach 2026 with greater certainty that Nigeria offers a reliable, internationally aligned venue for resolving high value disputes.