The Federal Government has granted approval for the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), announced this development after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
This housing initiative, part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide secure and comfortable accommodation for members of the judiciary. According to Wike, the 40 residences will be built in the Kantampe District, with 20 homes designated for the FCT High Court, 10 for the Federal High Court, and 10 for the Court of Appeal. The project is expected to be completed within 15 months.
Wike also revealed that, alongside the housing project, FEC approved several infrastructure improvements to enhance access to the judicial quarters. These include the construction of access roads, such as the Artillery Road N11 from Mabuchi to the judges’ quarters, and internal road networks within the quarters. Additional roads will connect the Court of Appeal Abuja division and Ring Road 1-N16 Shehu Shagari Way to the judges’ residences.
The housing and road projects are part of a broader infrastructure initiative for the FCT, which includes over 75 kilometers of road development in satellite towns like Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Bwari. The government aims to complete these infrastructure developments by December.
Wike further disclosed that a previous contract for the development of Maitama 2 had been terminated due to delays and lack of progress. A new procurement process will be initiated to ensure the area’s development, which could help address housing shortages in Abuja.
He said the President attached importance to the judiciary as he “finds it difficult that judges and Justices will be living in rented houses and hotels, that is not safe for our judicial officials, not convenient for them to do their work and so the President directed that the FCT through the FCDA should immediately construct 40 numbered judges and Justices quarters at Kantampe District.”
“What it means is that out of these 40 FCT High Courts which is like the FCT Court will have 20, the federal high court will have 10 and the Court of Appeal will have 10 and this will be completed in 15 months’ time.”