President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday officially reopened the refurbished Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC), which has now been renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, following a major overhaul initiated by his administration.
During the ceremony, held at the revitalised facility, the President directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to henceforth make financial contributions for the use of the venue to ensure its sustainability and proper maintenance.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, announced the renaming of the Centre during the event. In a statement released by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu recalled his dismay during a previous visit to the centre in 2024 when it hosted the ECOWAS Parliament.
The President recounted,“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 assured me that they would transform it and today, I am truly delighted.”
President Tinubu reiterated the importance of the Conference Centre in Nigeria’s broader national vision.
He added, “The ICC is a critical component of our strategy to position Nigeria as a central hub for regional diplomacy, continental trade, and global collaboration — aligned with our ‘Nigeria First’ agenda.”
The President commended Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the original contractor, for executing a high-standard renovation that aligns with the company’s long-standing reputation for quality delivery.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to infrastructural renewal across strategic sectors such as transportation, healthcare, education, energy, and urban development — pillars of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Commending Minister Wike’s swift action, Tinubu said: “Completing this transformation in just under a year speaks volumes. Do not listen to the idle talk of bystanders. Keep going. You are a transformational leader with vision, courage, and determination.”
Also speaking at the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the naming of the centre’s halls after the heads of the three arms of government, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria — as a symbol of unity and cooperation.
Akpabio lauded the spirit of collaboration between the executive, legislature, and judiciary under Tinubu’s leadership.
Minister Wike, in his remarks, credited the transformation of the ICC to the President’s decisive leadership.
“Many presidents visited this centre and said nothing. But Mr President, you saw what needed to be done and acted. This courage is rare,” Wike stated.
Emphasising the importance of financial discipline, he added: “Whether you’re a ministry or agency, usage of this facility will come at a cost. There will be no exemptions — not even for family weddings. That’s the only way to maintain this level of quality.”
The renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is one of several major infrastructure projects scheduled for commissioning in the Federal Capital Territory as part of President Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
These projects fall under the FCT Administration’s urban development strategy led by Wike.
