“Tinubu Has Taste”: Wike on Why ₦39bn Was Spent on Conference Centre Renovation

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday defended the ₦39 billion spent on renovating the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, saying the expenditure reflects a commitment to quality and national pride. Speaking at the commissioning of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway in the capital, Wike dismissed critics of the project and the decision to rename the facility after President Bola Tinubu.

Wike explained that nearly everything in the conference centre was replaced, apart from the original block structure. He noted that while the centre was initially built in 1991 at a cost of ₦240 million under the military regime of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, current economic realities—including inflation and exchange rate differences—justified the new cost. “What was the exchange rate in 1991?” he asked rhetorically. “Compare the exchange rate to what we have in 2025.”

President Tinubu commissioned the refurbished ICC on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The centre was officially renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre during the ceremony. The move sparked criticism from opposition figures, including former lawmaker Shehu Sani, who argued that the facility should have been named after Babangida, the leader in power when it was originally constructed.

In response, Wike dismissed the backlash, stating, “Nobody who loves this country would criticise the International Conference Centre.” He added that symbolic naming does not always reflect who built a project, citing examples like the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Taking a swipe at his critics, Wike remarked, “They said we did not name the International Conference Centre after someone who built it. We have taste, we want the best for the country, and the president has given the best for the country.”

He concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to President Tinubu and his administration’s vision. “If you did not do well to defend your boss when you had the opportunity, it is your business. I am here and I will defend my boss. I have done it and I have no regret at all.”