The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved significant budgetary allocations aimed at strengthening the Nigerian judiciary, particularly within the FCT.
Speaking on Monday during a special court session in Abuja to mark the opening of the Court of Appeal’s 2025/2026 Legal Year, Wike revealed that the new budget includes funds for the construction of additional residential quarters for judges of the FCT High Court. According to him, the initiative is intended to address persistent housing shortages and ensure that judicial officers have adequate, secure, and dignified accommodation.
A statement issued by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, highlighted several steps already taken by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under President Tinubu’s directive. One of these is the formal handover of the Certificate of Occupancy for land belonging to the Supreme Court. Wike added that the FCTA has also started comprehensive perimeter fencing of the Supreme Court complex to prevent land encroachment and enhance security around the nation’s highest court.
He described these interventions as decisive and long overdue, noting that they have restored confidence within the judiciary. According to him, “This level of support for the judiciary had been neglected by previous administrations, and the President’s actions are helping rebuild trust at all levels of the judicial system.”
Wike outlined several other ongoing projects initiated through the FCTA to improve the administration of justice. These include the construction of new, secure housing for heads of courts across the FCT and the development of a modern Magistrate Court Complex in Jabi District. The new facility is expected to expand access to justice, ease congestion in existing courts, and improve service delivery for residents.
The minister explained that the underlying philosophy of the Tinubu administration is that judicial officers should be provided with living and working conditions that allow them to carry out their duties without distraction. “When judges have safe, conducive accommodation, they can focus solely on delivering timely and fair justice,” he emphasized.
Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 Legal Year, Wike reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to supporting ongoing justice sector reforms. He pledged accelerated completion of the residential quarters for heads of courts and the Jabi Magistrate Court Complex so they can become operational as soon as possible.
He also announced that the new budget contains further allocations for more housing units for High Court judges, reinforcing the administration’s goal of ensuring all judicial officers are adequately accommodated.
Wike added that the FCTA will continue partnering with judicial bodies—including the Court of Appeal—to advance the digitisation of court operations. This includes upgrading registries and enabling electronic court processes to improve efficiency, minimise reliance on manual documentation, and expedite case handling.
According to him, these reforms and infrastructural projects will collectively support a faster, more transparent justice system for residents of the FCT and the country at large.
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