The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed the reason behind renaming the International Conference Centre (ICC) after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the commissioning of the renovated facility on Tuesday.
According to Wike, the decision to rename the facility as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre was in recognition of the President's leadership in ordering its complete renovation after decades of neglect.
"It's necessary for people to understand why this is now Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. This was built in 1991 under the military government and since then, nothing has happened to this international conference centre," Wike explained.
Presidential Leadership Recognized
The FCT Minister recalled how President Tinubu had visited the facility last year for the inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament and was dissatisfied with its condition.
"Last year, you came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS Parliament and it was an embarrassment for a country to have this as an international conference centre then and you said 'how can we have this as an international conference centre?'" Wike recounted.
He emphasized that President Tinubu's directive led to the transformation of the facility within just eight months, something previous administrations had failed to accomplish.
"Without your leadership, it wouldn't have been possible – you are not the only President who has been here, so many presidents have come here and none said this is not what Nigeria needs," the Minister stated.
Wike proudly declared that the renovated Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre "can match any other international conference centre" globally, reflecting Nigeria's status as the giant of Africa.
Sustainability Plan Announced
To ensure the facility's long-term maintenance, Wike announced that all users, including government ministries and agencies, would be required to pay for its use.
"What I want to appeal Mr President because I know pressure will come. How do we sustain this? I want to let everybody know that whether you are a ministry or agency that wants to use this, you have to pay something. That is the only way it will be sustained," he emphasized.
The Minister acknowledged that despite facing pressure from various quarters, President Tinubu had remained resolute in his commitment to rehabilitate the facility, demonstrating what Wike described as the right kind of leadership Nigeria needs.
"Pressure came from left, right, and centre but you said go ahead and rehabilitate that place. Our problem is leadership, when we have the right leadership, things will be done and that is what you have shown today," Wike concluded.
The renovation and renaming of the International Conference Centre mark another milestone in the current administration's infrastructure development agenda for the Federal Capital Territory.
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