Wike raises alarm over slow pace at appeal project — Warns December deadline in jeopardy

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has raised fresh concerns over the slow progress of construction at the Judges’ Quarters and Court of Appeal complex in Daki Biyu, Jabi, Abuja warning that the contractor may be on course to miss the December completion deadline it requested.

Wike, who spoke on Wednesday during a routine inspection tour that revealed noticeable gaps between timelines and on-ground progress, said he was “not convinced” the project would be delivered this year.

“Initially, the contractors agreed to complete this project by September, but they wrote to request an extension to December due to some setbacks,” Wike said. “However, from what I have seen here today, I do not believe this project will be completed by December. It may even be difficult in January. That is not what we expected at all.”

Despite pockets of visible advancement on site, the Minister maintained that the overall pace, especially at the finishing stage, fell short of expectations for a project of such national relevance. Project sources at the site, though unwilling to be named, hinted at logistical delays and supply bottlenecks, lending weight to the Minister’s concerns.

Wike underscored the strategic importance of the project to Nigeria’s justice system, stressing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is prioritising judicial welfare and infrastructure as a foundation for stronger public confidence

“You can not talk about confidence in the judiciary without talking about investment in infrastructure and judicial welfare,” he said. “These are the things that give judicial officers the confidence to discharge their duties.”

He added that a functional and dignified living environment for judges is central to sustaining trust in democratic institutions. “If you don't have confidence in the judiciary, you can not be sure of the future of our democracy. What we are doing here is creating the right environment for them to put in their best and maintain public trust in their work.”

The FCT Administration, under Wike’s directive, is expected to increase oversight on the project in the coming weeks, as concerns rise that yet another key infrastructure timeline may be slipping beyond control.