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, while also pushing for accelerated infrastructure upgrades at the institution.
The decision followed a meeting in Abuja with the management of the Nigerian Law School, where concerns around land documentation and facility deficits were discussed.
Wike expressed astonishment that the Law School, despite its relocation to Bwari, had continued operating without proper land title documentation. He described the situation as part of a wider administrative gap now being corrected by his office.
“The lack of official documentation for government institutions is a trend that this administration is actively correcting.”
Following this, he directed the Director of Lands within the FCT Administration to waive all associated processing fees for the C of O. He also instructed that the entire documentation process be completed within one week.
According to him, formalising the land status is necessary to regularise ownership and eliminate what he referred to as administrative irregularities surrounding government assets.
Beyond land issues, the minister announced what he described as emergency interventions to improve the school’s physical infrastructure, particularly staff accommodation and student facilities.
He disclosed that 10 staff housing units have already been completed and are scheduled for commissioning as part of activities marking the President’s third year in office.
Wike further revealed plans to construct an additional 10 staff quarters, using existing designs in order to reduce costs and speed up delivery.
He also confirmed ongoing work on two hostels, one designated for male students and the other for female students, aimed at easing congestion on campus.
An additional project, a new auditorium, has been approved, though he questioned delays in the contractor’s mobilisation to site.
Wike also instructed the Law School to collaborate with the FCTA General Counsel to explore digitisation of administrative systems, drawing inspiration from reforms already underway at the FCT High Court.
He 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 that. The staff quarters must be treated as an emergency project to ensure rapid delivery.”
