By Ayomide Otitoju
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the controversial ₦39 billion spent on the renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, insisting the expenditure was necessary to modernise the facility.
Speaking on Friday at the commissioning of the newly completed Left-Hand Service Carriageway in Abuja, Wike said the renovation transformed the entire structure, with only the blockwork remaining untouched.
“The only thing in that Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre that was not changed is just the block work,” Wike stated, adding that the upgrades were in line with Nigeria’s status as the “Giant of Africa.”
The minister was responding to public outcry over the cost of renovation and the decision to rename the centre after President Bola Tinubu, who inaugurated the refurbished facility on June 10, 2025. Critics, including former lawmaker Shehu Sani, argued that the original builder, former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, should have received the honour instead.
Wike dismissed the criticisms, saying, “Nobody who loves this country would criticise the International Conference Centre,” and cited examples such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Moshood Abiola Stadium, which were not named after their builders.
He also addressed concerns over the cost, noting that while the original construction in 1991 reportedly cost ₦240 million, inflation and currency devaluation have significantly changed economic realities. “What was the exchange rate in 1991? Compare it to what we have in 2025,” he said.
Defending the project’s significance, the minister stated, “We have taste. We want the best for the country. And the president has given the best.”
Wike concluded by asserting his loyalty to President Tinubu, saying, “I have done it, and I have no regret at all,” while dismissing criticisms that the project was a misplaced priority.
