Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has promised to provide infrastructure before allocating land in the territory.
Wike spoke yesterday when he hosted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who urged him to consider the judiciary in the allocation of land in the FCT.
The minister noted that there is no economic sense in allocating land to people in areas that are not accessible.
Wike, who affirmed his respect for the Judiciary and the Legislature, said he believed in the equality and independence of the three arms of government.
The minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had mandated him to provide land to key officials in the three arms, assuring that he was developing a template that would see the allocation done in phases.
He said: “Like you rightly said, I believe that the three arms of government must work together, even though independently. I believe that no arm of government should be treated lesser than the other.
“Without the judiciary, our democracy cannot survive. Nigerians are talking about the judiciary today because of the role you play. So, whatever is required to strengthen the judiciary is not over-demanding.
“Without the judiciary, our democracy cannot survive. Nigerians are talking about the judiciary today because of the role you play. So, whatever is required to strengthen the judiciary is not over-demanding.
“Before now, the President had given me the go-ahead to allocate land to the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. What remains now is how it should be done, because the number is much. What we have decided to do is to do this in phases. All cannot be done at the same time.
“Some allocations were done in the past but, unfortunately, some of the places are inaccessible. I think it is baseless allocating land where people have no access, that is, infrastructure. It does not make any sense. So, we will allocate land to you in places that are accessible.”
Justice Tsoho hailed Wike for his continued support to the judiciary.
The judge recalled that as Rivers State governor, Wike prioritised the welfare of judicial officers.
He said Wike’s great antecedents in Rivers must have earned him this current position.