Yesterday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the construction of 40 houses for judges and justices in the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative was part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, RHI, which aims to provide secure and convenient accommodation for members of the judiciary.
Wike explained that the 40 residences will be constructed in the Kantampe district, with 20 allocated to the FCT High Court, 10 to the Federal High Court, and 10 to the Court of Appeal.
He said the project is slated for completion within 15 months.
He said, “Also, given the importance that the President attaches to the Judiciary, he finds it problematic that judges and Justices will live in rented houses and hotels.
“That is unsafe for our judicial officials and inconvenient for them to do their work. The President directed that the FCT, through the FCDA, should immediately construct 40 numbered judges and Justices’ quarters in the 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 ten, and the court of Appeal will have ten, which will be completed in fifteen months.”
In addition to the housing project, Wike said FEC approved several infrastructure developments to improve access to the judicial quarters.
There is “construction of an access road from Artillery Road N11 from Mabuchi to the judges’ quarters, development of all internal roads within the judges’ quarters.
Others are constructing an access road from Ring Road 1-N16 Shehu Shagari Way to the judges’ quarters and developing roads connecting to the Court of Appeal Abuja division.
He said these approvals are part of a more significant infrastructure push in the FCT, which includes the development of over 75 kilometres of roads in satellite towns across Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Bwari area councils.
The Minister said the government aims to complete these projects by December.
*Wike discloses termination of the contract for development of Maitama 2
Wike also announced the termination of a previous contract for the development of Maitama 2, citing delays and lack of progress.
He said a new procurement process will be initiated to ensure the area’s development, potentially addressing housing deficits in the capital.
Also briefing, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, said that the Council approved several major road projects across the country, allocating billions of naira for construction.
Senator Umahi announced that Julius Berger’s Abuja/Kano Road project received approval for N740bn.
The project, initially valued at N155bn, was revised by the previous administration to N797 bn and further increased to N1.5trn.
Other approved projects include the rehabilitation of Maraban-Kankara/Funtua Road in Katsina State, the construction of the Sokoto/Badagry Super-highway Section 2, Phase 2A in Kebbi State, and the dualisation of Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road in Ebonyi, Abia, and Imo states.
Additionally, FEC approved N80bn to complete the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State, bringing the total cost to N280bn.
Previously executed under emergency work, the Third Mainland Bridge has been upgraded with solar lights and CCTV cameras, enhancing security and reducing road blockages.
Umahi also mentioned 14 road projects and bridges affected by floods, including Ado-Ekiti/Afe Babalola in Ekiti State and Lafia/Shendam Road in Plateau State.
