Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticized those questioning the N39 billion spent on rehabilitating the International Conference Centre in Abuja, stating that such critics "don't have good taste."
Speaking on Friday while defending the expenditure, Wike emphasized that the renovation was comprehensive, with virtually everything in the facility being replaced except for the block work.
"The only thing in that International Conference Centre that was not changed is just the block work. Everything in that Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre was changed," the FCT minister stated.
Justifying the Cost Difference
Wike explained that while the original construction of the conference centre in 1991 during Ibrahim Babangida's regime cost N240 million, significant changes in commodity prices over the decades justified the current renovation budget of N39 billion.
The renovation project has faced criticism from various quarters, not only regarding the amount spent but also concerning the decision to rename the facility after President Bola Tinubu. Some critics have argued that the centre should have retained its original name or been named after former military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, who initiated its construction.
BenriNews reports that President Tinubu commissioned the refurbished facility on Tuesday, which now bears his name as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
This controversy comes amid Wike's ongoing efforts to complete abandoned projects in the FCT, as he has repeatedly stated his commitment to ensuring that all initiated projects reach completion during his tenure.
The minister has maintained his characteristic defiant stance against critics, consistent with his recent public statements on various policy decisions and political matters.
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