Wike Defends ₦39bn ICC Renovation, Renames It After Tinubu — Critics Say ‘Misplaced Priority’
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has come under public scrutiny for defending the ₦39 billion spent on renovating Abuja’s International Conference Centre (ICC), now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Speaking on Friday at the commissioning of the newly built Left-Hand Service Carriageway in the FCT, Wike argued that the entire structure had been transformed. “The only thing that wasn’t changed was the block work,” he stated. According to him, despite the fact that the original ICC was built with ₦240 million in 1991 under former military leader Ibrahim Babangida, inflation and currency depreciation justify the current renovation cost.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the refurbished ICC on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, during a high-profile ceremony. However, the move stirred controversy. Opposition figures like Shehu Sani slammed Wike for renaming the centre after Tinubu instead of Babangida, the man under whose regime it was first built. Many Nigerians also questioned the hefty price tag, calling it excessive in a time of economic strain.
Wike hit back at critics, branding them as people who “don’t have good taste.” He emphasized that Nigeria must look the part of the “Giant of Africa,” and such landmark structures should reflect that stature.
“Nobody who loves this country would criticise the International Conference Centre,” Wike insisted.
He also dismissed the idea that buildings should only be named after their original builders:
“Nnamdi Azikiwe didn’t build the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Moshood Abiola didn’t build the stadium named after him,” he noted.
Defending the cost, Wike challenged critics to compare the 1991 exchange rate with that of 2025, implying that rising costs over time justified the ₦39bn investment.
“We have taste. We want the best for the country. And the president has given the best,” Wike declared. “If you didn’t defend your boss when you had the chance, that’s your business. I’ve done mine — no regrets.”
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