Wike slams slow pace of work, says Appeal Court project may miss December deadline

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work at the ongoing Judges quarter and Court of Appeal complex at Daki Biyu jabi Abuja, warning that the contractor is unlikely to meet the revised December completion deadline.

Wike spoke on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the project, where he noted that although significant progress had been made, the finishing phase was dragging beyond acceptable timelines.

“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.”

The Minister acknowledged that some sections visited showed satisfactory progress but insisted that the overall pace remained below the standard required for a project of such national importance.

Speaking on the significance of the project to Nigeria’s justice system, Wike emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to strengthening the judiciary through improved welfare and infrastructure.

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

Wike added that creating a conducive environment for judges is essential for sustaining public trust in the justice system. “If you don’t have confidence in the judiciary, you cannot 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,” he stated.

The inspection tour continues as the FCT Administration intensifies oversight to ensure timely delivery of major projects across the territory.