The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has granted an immediate waiver of fees for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the Nigerian Law School’s Abuja campus in Bwari.
Speaking during a meeting with the school’s management in Abuja, Wike also declared an “emergency” on the construction of staff quarters and other critical infrastructure to enhance the institution’s learning environment.
Responding to an appeal from the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Olugbemisola Odusote, Wike expressed surprise that the institution had operated without a C of O since relocating to Bwari.
He described the absence of official documentation for government institutions as a trend his administration is actively correcting.
READ ALSO: FCT Minister Unveils Plan for New Nigerian Law School Auditorium
The Minister directed the Director of Lands to waive all processing fees for the school’s C of O and issued a firm directive that the document be processed and ready within one week.
He noted that regularising the land is essential to move the school from
what he described as an “illegal occupation” to lawful ownership.
Beyond land matters, the Minister committed the FCT Administration (FCTA) to several high-priority projects aimed at addressing overcrowding and improving staff efficiency.
Wike announced that 10 staff quarters have already been completed and will be commissioned as part of the President’s third anniversary. He further pledged to construct an additional 10 units using existing prototypes to reduce design costs.
According to him, work is also progressing on two new hostels, one for male students and one for female students, to ease overcrowding.
The Minister confirmed that he has approved the budget for a new auditorium and questioned why the contractor had not yet mobilised to site.
To modernise administrative processes, Wike directed the school to liaise with the FCTA General Counsel to explore digitisation solutions, similar to ongoing efforts at the FCT High Court.
Wike emphasised that these interventions are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader agenda to support legal education and the judiciary. He noted that the President is currently constructing “presidential apartments” for judges to ensure their security, welfare, and independence.
“Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do,” Wike stated, adding that the staff quarters must be treated as an emergency project to ensure swift delivery.
Earlier, Odusote congratulated the Minister on his appointment and praised the visible infrastructure developments across the FCT, while highlighting the specific challenges of disrepair and infrastructure deficits facing the law school.