ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced that budgetary provisions have been made for the construction of additional residential houses for high court judges in Abuja, a move aimed at addressing persistent accommodation shortages facing the judiciary in the nation’s capital.
Wike disclosed the plan on Monday, December 8, 2025, while speaking at a special court session marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
He said the Federal Capital Territory Administration was taking deliberate steps to ensure that judicial officers are provided with secure and decent housing, describing adequate accommodation as critical to their productivity and effectiveness.
According to the minister, recent interventions by the FCT Administration include the formal handover of the certificate of occupancy for land allocated to the Supreme Court and the commencement of full perimeter fencing of the complex.
“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 what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening the justice sector and creating an environment in which judicial officers can operate without structural or security-related distractions.
“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,” Wike said.
Beyond the planned housing for judges, the minister said several other infrastructure projects for the judiciary are currently underway.
These include new court complexes, residential quarters for heads of courts, and staff housing for the Nigerian Law School.
“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.
Wike added that the FCT Administration intended to intensify its support for justice sector reforms in the coming year.
“As we step into the new legal year, the FCT administration remains resolute in its determination to further support the implementation of justice reforms,” he said.
“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.”
The availability of official housing for judges in Abuja has long been a point of concern within Nigeria’s legal community.
Several judicial officers are known to rely on private accommodation, often at significant personal cost, while others face security risks linked to their residences.
Judicial leaders at Monday’s session welcomed the renewed focus on infrastructure but urged the government to maintain consistency in funding and project execution.
They also stressed that improved facilities must go hand in hand with broader reforms to strengthen judicial independence and efficiency.
Since assuming office, the Tinubu administration has highlighted the justice sector as one of its institutional reform priorities, arguing that a stable and well-equipped judiciary is essential for investor confidence, the rule of law and democratic stability.
Wike’s remarks suggest that the FCT Administration intends to play a central role in delivering the physical infrastructure underpinning those reforms, particularly in Abuja, which hosts the country’s most senior courts.
For now, judicial officers and court staff await the rollout of the new housing projects, which the minister said would be pursued aggressively throughout the 2025/2026 legal year.
