ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday formally reopened the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC), now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, following a comprehensive upgrade led by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The President, who expressed satisfaction with the transformation of the facility, directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to pay for its use to ensure proper maintenance and long-term sustainability.
“I am very happy today,” Tinubu said, recalling his disappointment during a 2024 visit to the centre for the ECOWAS Parliament Conference. “The environment was dirty, disorganised, and uninhabitable. I turned to Mr. Wike and said, ‘This Conference Centre does not reflect who we are. Have we sunk this low?’ He replied, ‘Bear with us. We will transform the place.’ And today, we see the result.”
The renaming of the Centre, originally opened in 1991, was announced by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike at the event. According to him, the transformation was completed within eight months of President Tinubu’s directive, describing the outcome as a symbol of visionary leadership.
“Mr. President, this would not have been possible without your boldness. Many presidents have visited here, but none took decisive action,” Wike said.
He also emphasized financial discipline in maintaining the upgraded facility. “Whether you are a ministry or an agency, you must pay something to use this centre. No more free usage for weddings or events just because of personal connections,” he stressed.
President Tinubu commended Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, the original contractor, for executing a high-quality renovation. “The standard delivered reflects what Julius Berger has always stood for in this country,” he said.
He further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal across key sectors—including transportation, education, healthcare, energy, and urban development—under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the FCT Administration for naming sections of the complex after top officials, including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He hailed the symbolic gesture as evidence of the harmony among Nigeria’s three arms of government.
Commonwealth Partnership: Nigeria Launches Mining Capacity Programme in Australia
Applauding Wike’s leadership, President Tinubu added: “Do not listen to the busybodies and bystanders. Continue your good work. You are a transformational leader with foresight, vision, and determination.”
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is one of several major projects scheduled for commissioning in the Federal Capital Territory to mark President Tinubu’s second year in office.
