Wike Begins Construction Of 600-Bed Hostels At Abuja Law School

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Monday kicked off the construction of new male and female students’ hostels at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.

Wike described the project as another promise made and fulfilled by President Bola Tinubu in advancing legal education and justice sector reform in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wike commended the President for what he called “consistent and practical support for legal education”, noting that in just two years in office, President Tinubu has made two major interventions at the Nigerian Law School, first with the staff quarters in 2024, and now with the student hostels in 2025.

“Just like the chairman of legal education has said, today is another promise made and fulfilled. Let it be recorded and for the doubting Thomases, that in two years of Mr. President’s administration, through the Attorney General, we have visited this Law School twice,” Wike said.

He recalled that during the commencement of the staff quarters in December 2024, President Tinubu had pledged to address the shortage of student accommodation, a challenge that had forced the school to turn down eligible law graduates from universities across the country.

“Today, we are here to fulfil that promise Mr. President made. This shows that when you have good leadership, there is nothing difficult in achieving results, and Mr. President has shown leadership,” he said.

The hostels, designed to accommodate about 600 students, will significantly expand the capacity of the Bwari campus and ease accommodation constraints.

Wike also revealed that discussions were already underway to build a new auditorium for the school, following President Tinubu’s directive after learning that the existing hall would no longer be adequate to accommodate the growing number of students.

“Luckily for us, I was privileged to be with Mr. President last night, and I tabled this to him. He said, ‘Go back and make sure another auditorium is built for the Nigerian Law School.’ This shows that when problems are channelled correctly to the appropriate authority, no reasonable government will ignore the call,” the minister explained.

The FCT Minister further commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his “unwavering commitment and partnership” with the FCT Administration and the Council of Legal Education in advancing legal reforms and infrastructure.

“All we are doing in the justice sector today is because of his support. The digitisation of the FCT High Courts was his initiative. He came to me and said, ‘Let us see how to digitalise the courts,’ and through Mr. President’s approval and National Assembly’s backing, that project is now in progress,” Wike said.

He assured that the hostel project would be completed within 12 months, and stressed that the FCT Administration would not entertain contract variations or delays.

“Let me assure you, the 12 months is 12 months. The contractors are aware that we will not accept variations or anything else,” he declared.

Wike also commended the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), describing him as “a lucky and visionary administrator” whose leadership had transformed the institution across its campuses.

“I have looked at the kind of infrastructure you have brought to the Nigerian Law School, not just in the main campus. When I visited Yenagoa, I was impressed with the facilities. You were not selfish. You said, ‘Let’s go to Yenagoa,’ and today that hostel and auditorium are completed. History will be kind to you,” Wike said.

In his welcome address, Chiroma expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their continued commitment to improving the standard of legal education in Nigeria.

“You may recall that on December 9, 2024, during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of staff quarters and donation of vehicles to the Nigerian Law School, His Excellency, the FCT Minister, promised to make a budgetary provision in 2025 for the building of 300-bed hostels for male and female students. Today, that promise is fulfilled,” Chiroma said.

He noted that the new hostels would “go a long way in assisting the Nigerian Law School to fulfil its mandate.”

Chiroma also praised Wike’s track record of infrastructure delivery in the legal education sector, citing the Graham-Douglas Campus in Port Harcourt and the Yenagoa Campus as lasting testaments to his commitment.

“To many of us who are familiar with your antecedents, it is history repeating itself. You have done more in the past — the Port Harcourt and Yenagoa campuses, staff quarters, and provision of utility vehicles, all are legacy projects that will continue to speak for your developmental strides in Nigeria. Posterity will be kind to you,” the DG said.

He equally acknowledged the support of the Attorney General, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, for their continued backing of the Nigerian Law School.