The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered an immediate waiver of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) charges for the Nigerian Law School’s Abuja campus, alongside a directive for accelerated infrastructure upgrades at the institution.
The decision followed a meeting in Abuja with the Law School’s management, during which concerns over land documentation and facility deficits were discussed. Wike expressed surprise that the school, despite relocating to Bwari, had continued operating without proper title documents, describing the situation as part of a wider administrative gap now being addressed by his office.
“The lack of official documentation for government institutions is a trend that this administration is actively correcting,” he said.
Wike directed the FCT Director of Lands to waive all associated processing fees for the C of O and complete the documentation process within one week. He argued that formalising the land status was necessary to regularise ownership and eliminate administrative irregularities surrounding government assets.
Beyond land issues, the Minister announced emergency interventions to improve the school’s physical infrastructure, particularly staff and student accommodation. He disclosed that ten staff housing units had already been completed and scheduled for commissioning as part of activities marking the President’s third year in office. An additional ten staff quarters, using existing designs to reduce costs and speed delivery, have also been approved.
Wike confirmed ongoing work on two hostels – one for male and one for female students – to ease campus congestion. A new auditorium has been approved, though he questioned delays in the contractor’s mobilisation. He also instructed the Law School to collaborate with the FCTA General Counsel to explore digitisation of administrative systems, drawing from reforms already underway at the FCT High Court.
The Minister said the reforms align with broader efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthen legal and judicial institutions.
“The President is currently constructing presidential apartments for judges to ensure their security, welfare, and autonomy. Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do. The staff quarters must be treated as an emergency project to ensure rapid delivery,” Wike added.
