Nigerian Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr) David Umahi has reeled out decisive steps taken by the Renewed Hope administration aimed at tackling the accumulated judicial infrastructure deficits, including the provision of enduring access roads nationwide.
Umahi, who at the 2024 Court of Appeal Justices Annual Conference held in Abuja recently described judicial infrastructure as crucial for the stimulation of effective and efficient justice delivery system in every democratic dispensation.
In a paper delivery with caption: “The Importance of Judicial Infrastructure to Adjudication”, the Minister stated that improved accessibility to justice system through judicial infrastructure digitalization was an administrative imperative of government at all levels.
According to him, “The Renewed Hope agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is anchored on a transformational policy thrust aimed at revolutionizing the critical infrastructure that will stimulate socio-economic development.
In a statement released by his media aide, the Minister added, “The infrastructure necessary to ensure delivery of justice and effective adjudication are a part of the policy thrust of Mr. President.”
He further said, “Mr. President’s efforts to enhance the operational efficiency of the Judiciary through housing programmes, enhanced welfare package for the judicial officers, creation of enduring road, investment in power and digital infrastructure should be commended. 
“All these efforts will have a multiplier effect on the outcome of adjudication as it guarantees accelerated leaning, reduces cost of justice delivery and promotes the independence of the Judiciary.”
The Minister pointed out that improved access roads, judicial quarters, power supply, electronic infrastructure will reduce delays in adjudication, promote quantitative judicial productivity and ultimately improve justice delivery system.
He said, “The availability of the needed judicial infrastructure catalyzes equal and free access to justice as well as the speedy dispensation of justice.
“Infrastructure speaks a lot about enhancing judicial productivity, both qualitatively and quantitatively, as it makes justice delivery system accessible, cost effective, transparent, and accountable.”
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of session and former Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Federation, Chief Kanu G. Agabi, commended Judiciary in Nigeria for upholding the tenets of their constitutional mandate despite daunting challenges.
He called on the anti-corruption agencies to find more proactive and more productive measures of fighting corruption noting that government at all levels must be intentional in making Nigeria self reliant.
Agabi said “We cannot proceed on the premise that we should build more courts or build more prisons or appoint more judges. No. The proper approach is to build more schools, make the nation self-reliant.
“The nation is not self-reliant. If the nation is self-reliant, the work of the judges will be reduced. But if we are not self-reliant, of course the kinds of problems that multiply work for the judges. The judges have no lives of their own. They are suffering, I can tell you”, he added.
Panel of discussants on the paper presentation were Justice P. O. Ige, JCA (Rtd) and Justice J. G. Abundaga, JCA. The Honourable Minister of Works was honoured at the event as ‘ Fellow of the Court of Appeal’ (FCA).
