President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday formally reopened the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, directing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to make payments for its use in order to guarantee its long-term maintenance and sustainability.
The President gave the directive at a high-profile commissioning event in Abuja, where he praised the quality of renovation delivered by construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and lauded the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for completing the project in record time.
According to a statement issued by the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu recalled his dismay during his visit to the Centre in 2024 when it hosted the ECOWAS Parliament conference.
“When I attended 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, ‘No, bear with us. We will do whatever we can to transform the place.’ Today, I am very happy,” Tinubu stated.
He said the renovation aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambition to position itself as a regional hub for diplomacy, continental trade negotiations, and global partnerships.
“The International Conference Centre is part of our country’s larger vision to become a hub for regional diplomacy, continental trade discussions, global partnerships, and other thoughtful, well-outlined goals that reflect our ‘Nigeria First’ principle,” he added.
The Centre, originally inaugurated in 1991, had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Tinubu praised Julius Berger, which also handled the original construction, for restoring it to international standard.
“This quality reflects what Julius Berger has been known for in this country for years,” the President noted.
The renovation is one of several capital projects spearheaded by the FCT Administration under Wike’s leadership and scheduled for commissioning as part of events marking Tinubu’s second anniversary in office. The FCT Minister disclosed that the transformation was executed within eight months following the President’s directive.
“Mr. President, this transformation would not have been possible without your leadership. Many presidents have come here, but none said this was not what Nigeria needed because they lacked your courage and vision,” Wike said during the ceremony.
Wike emphasised the need for fiscal discipline in managing the upgraded Centre and warned against free usage of the facility, even by government entities.
“Whether you are a ministry or an agency, you must pay something to use this facility. That is the only way we can sustain it. No such thing as ‘my brother’ or ‘my sister’ wants to use it for a wedding. If you want to use a beautiful place like this, you must pay something,” the Minister declared.
Tinubu, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development across key sectors—transport, health, education, energy, and urban renewal—described Wike as a “transformational leader with foresight, vision, and determination.”
“Do not pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders. Whatever they say, continue your good work,” the President urged.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also present at the event, praised the synergy between the arms of government under Tinubu’s leadership. He welcomed the decision to name major halls at the facility after key national institutions, including the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The newly reopened Centre is expected to serve as a major venue for national and international events in Abuja, bolstering the Federal Capital’s status as a premier destination for diplomatic and policy engagements across Africa.
