The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved a waiver of all fees for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari.
He also declared an emergency on staff housing and infrastructure at the institution during a meeting with its management in Abuja on Thursday.
Wike expressed surprise that the Law School had operated in Bwari for years without formal land documentation after its relocation from Lagos in 1997.
He described the situation as part of a wider pattern affecting public institutions and said his administration was working to correct such lapses.
The minister directed the Director of Lands to waive all processing fees and ensure the C of O is issued within one week.
According to him, “We are going to waive the fee for the C of O for you immediately… it is quite unfortunate that since the Law School moved to Bwari, it has not had a C of O.”
Beyond documentation issues, Wike also raised concerns over infrastructure deficits at the Law School.
He announced that 10 staff housing units have already been completed and will be commissioned during activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office.
He added that another 10 housing units will be built using existing designs to speed up delivery and reduce costs.
Wike also confirmed ongoing work on two new student hostels for male and female students to ease overcrowding on campus.
The minister further approved funding for the construction of a new auditorium, expressing dissatisfaction with delays by the contractor handling the project.
He said the interventions are part of broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to strengthen legal education and improve infrastructure in federal institutions, including facilities for the judiciary.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote, commended ongoing infrastructure work in the FCT but highlighted challenges facing the institution.
She pointed to deteriorating facilities and inadequate infrastructure, calling for urgent attention to improve learning conditions for students.
The Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari serves as the headquarters of the institution, which provides mandatory vocational training for law graduates before they are called to the Bar.
The school has expanded into multiple campuses across Nigeria due to growing student numbers, with recent government efforts focused on improving accommodation and learning facilities.
