Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says budgetary provisions have been made to construct additional residential houses for high court judges in the nation’s capital to mitigate accommodation shortages.
Wike spoke on Monday at the special court session marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year of the court of appeal in Abuja.
The minister said the FCT Administration is taking deliberate steps to ensure judicial officers have decent and secure accommodation, noting that it is essential to their productivity.
He added that the administration had also completed significant interventions for the judiciary, including the formal handover of the certificate of occupancy for the supreme court land and commencement of full perimeter fencing of the complex.
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“Under the president’s decisive action, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has formally handed over the certificate of occupancy for the supreme court’s land,” Wike said.
“It has also commenced the full perimeter fencing of the entire complex to safeguard the nation’s apex court against encroachment and security breaches.”
He said the measures reflect President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening the justice sector and ensuring the judiciary can operate without structural distractions.
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“This swift, long-awaited intervention gives the apex court of our beloved country the much-needed confidence-building which had not been done by the previous administrations,” he said.
He added that more projects, including new court complexes, residential quarters for heads of courts, and staff housing for the Nigerian Law School, are currently underway to improve the administration of justice.
“The reasoning of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is that providing comfortable and secure accommodation allows judges to focus entirely on the timely and efficient administration of justice, free from the distractions of inadequate living conditions,” he said.
“As we step into the new legal year, the FCT administration remains resolute in its determination to further support the implementation of justice reforms.
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“Our priorities for the 2025/2026 legal year are focused on consolidating the gains made and expanding support where it is most needed.
“We will aggressively push for the timely completion of the new residential quarters for heads of courts and the Jabi magistrate court complex to ensure prompt utilisation.”
