President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre, which has now been renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
The ceremony, held in the Federal Capital Territory, was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and other dignitaries.
Originally constructed in 1991 during the military regime of former President Ibrahim Babangida, the centre had suffered decades of neglect. The recent renovation, led by construction firm Julius Berger, aims to restore the facility to international standards.
Speaking at the event, Minister Wike defended the decision to rename the centre after President Tinubu.
He credited the President’s intervention during a visit in mid-2023, when Tinubu reportedly expressed concern over the dilapidated state of the facility during the inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament.
“It is important for the public to understand why this is now called the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. This place was built in 1991 and nothing had been done since. When the President visited last year, he asked how such a facility could still be in use in this state. That showed leadership”, Wike said.
Wike praised Tinubu for what he described as the decisive leadership that enabled the project’s completion in eight months, noting that the centre now meets international standards.
The renovation, which Wike revealed in March would cost N39 billion, sparked public criticism due to the country’s prevailing economic challenges. At the time, the minister defended the expenditure, stating that the project was essential for Nigeria’s global image and that all materials had been secured to complete the work on schedule.
“I am pleased with what is happening. The total cost is N39 billion, not N39 million. The work is 70 to 80 per cent complete, and Julius Berger has assured us it will be handed over by May”, the minister added.
The newly renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is expected to serve as a premier venue for high-level national and international events.
Radio Nigeria
