Otamere Gladness 
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
ABUJA, Nigeria – A leading environmental rights organisation has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reactivate environmental courts and tribunals to address worsening sanitation and waste-management challenges in Abuja.
The CRUX Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development Foundation (CERADF) made the call in a formal letter titled “Request for the Reactivation of Environmental Courts and Tribunals in the FCT.”
CERADF says dedicated courts are needed to enforce environmental laws, ensure speedy trials and strengthen deterrence. “We request the establishment of a central Environmental Court within the High Court of the FCT, as well as Environmental Tribunals across all six Area Councils,” the letter states.
The group notes that although the Abuja Environmental Protection Board introduced mobile courts in 2022, these measures have not matched the scale of the capital’s environmental problems. Field monitoring across communities including Gwarinpa, Mpape, Lugbe, Nyanya, Kuje and the Central Business District revealed widespread waste accumulation, blocked drainages, flooding risks, rodent infestation and public-health concerns.
CERADF warns that the conditions have undermined Abuja’s reputation as Nigeria’s administrative headquarters, while weak enforcement and slow court processes have emboldened violators. “Sensitisation campaigns cannot succeed without a robust judicial framework that ensures consistent application of environmental laws,” it says.
The group recommends collaboration with the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, stronger penalties and wider community engagement.
Environmental analysts say dedicated courts could accelerate case resolution, improve compliance and help restore order to the capital’s public-health landscape.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Koko Maxwella 
Hussaini Ibrahim