Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has waived the payment of certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) fees for the Nigerian Law School (NLS) campus in Bwari, Abuja.
Wike gave the directive during a meeting with the management of the law school in Abuja, where he expressed surprise that the institution had operated at the site without a formal C-of-O.
He described the situation as part of a wider issue of undocumented government assets his administration is working to resolve.
The minister also directed that the document be processed and completed within one week
He instructed the FCT director of lands to immediately waive all processing fees and ensure the C-of-O is issued without delay, noting the importance of regularising land ownership for public institutions.
Wike also announced emergency interventions to improve infrastructure at the campus.
He said the FCT administration had prioritised the construction of staff quarters, noting that ten units have already been completed and would be commissioned during the President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary events.
He added that an additional ten units will be built using existing designs to reduce costs.
Wike also disclosed that construction is ongoing for new male and female hostels to address overcrowding, while approval has been granted for a new auditorium.
The minister raised concerns over delays in contractor mobilisation.
He further directed the law school to work with the FCTA general counsel to explore digitisation of administrative systems, in line with ongoing reforms in other FCT institutions such as the high court.
“Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do that,” Wike said, adding that the staff housing project “must be treated as an emergency to ensure quick delivery”.
A C-of-O is an official legal document issued by the Nigerian government that gives a person or organisation the right to occupy and use a specific piece of land for a fixed period.
