Abuja International Conference Centre Renamed After President Tinubu Amid N39 Billion Renovation Controversy

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has officially renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. The renaming was announced by Wike during a ceremony where President Bola Tinubu officiated the reopening of the center following extensive renovations .

The project, carried out over eight months, was supervised by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and cost a total of N39 billion. Wike defended the expenditure, emphasizing that the National Assembly and other government bodies contributed to the decision, with Tinubu personally initiating the rehabilitation after expressing shock at the facility's dilapidated state during the ECOWAS Parliament session in April 2024 .

President Tinubu, speaking at the inauguration, reiterated the centre’s importance as a symbol of Nigeria's capacity to host international events. He underscored that such a facility must reflect the nation’s status and urged all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to begin paying usage fees to ensure its sustainability—a move likely to end decades of free usage .

Critics have questioned the timing and scale of the project given Nigeria’s current economic challenges. However, supporters argue the upgrade aligns with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and his vision of replacing neglected infrastructure with world-class facilities ready for international diplomacy and commerce .

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