Wike Defends N39bn Spending On Conference Centre Renovation
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at critics over the renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, for N39bn.
The edifice was renamed after President Bola Tinubu following the renovation
Wike, speaking during the commissioning of the newly completed Left-Hand Service Carriageway on the Apo-Wassa axis of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) II, dismissed claims that the cost of rehabilitation was excessive.
“The only thing in that Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre that was not changed is the block work. Everything else was replaced,” he said.
The FCT Minister said critics lacked “good taste” and accused them of deliberately ignoring the improvements made to the facility, which was renamed by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, June 10, during its formal inauguration.
Responding to comparisons between the original cost of building the ICC at N240m in 1991 and the N39bn spent on the recent upgrade, Wike retorted, “What was the exchange rate in 1991? Compare it to what we have in 2025. People just sit down to criticize without facts.”
The renovation and renaming of the venue sparked debate, with former lawmaker Shehu Sani and others arguing that it should have been named after former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, under whose regime the ICC was built.
But Wike dismissed the logic, and pointed to other national monuments such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Moshood Abiola National Stadium, both of which were named after individuals not responsible for their construction.
“Nobody that loves this country will criticize the new International Conference Centre,” he said.
Wike also reiterated President Tinubu’s directive that all abandoned or delayed infrastructure projects across the FCT be completed, regardless of who initiated them.
He explained that the Apo-Wassa expressway project, originally awarded in 2017 for N6bn, was later reviewed to N21bn in 2021 due to inflation and technical challenges, including blasting 500 meters of rock to open the road. He credited the completion to the administration’s commitment and timely funding.
“Ground rent revenue did this,” Wike said, and defended the controversial policy saying, “Fifteen kilometers of road delivered. Those who criticize ground rent, see what it has achieved.”
He praised President Tinubu for providing not only the mandate but also “unwavering support” to the FCT administration.
Wike said, “You can give someone a position, but without support, it means nothing. Mr. President gave us both.”
He also praised the National Assembly leadership for backing FCT initiatives, saying their “special love” for Abuja had never been more evident. He dismissed critics as failed politicians and “social media activists.”
“Some people said it is a misplaced priority. You that couldn’t win an election are lecturing us about priorities. If you had any, Nigerians would have voted for you,” he said.
Wike further told residents of Abuja, “We are not here to please unnecessary critics. We are here to serve Abuja residents. If you choose not to be happy, may you never be happy because that’s your choice.”
This is the third major project unveiled by President Tinubu in three days, as part of a 17-day infrastructure commissioning across the FCT.
Wike Defends N39bn Spending On Conference Centre Renovation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
