The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has officially renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
The renaming was announced during the inauguration of the rehabilitated facility in Abuja on Tuesday.
Wike explained that the decision to name the centre after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in recognition of his leadership and commitment to the project’s completion.
The ICC was originally constructed in 1991 under a military regime, but had been left to decay over the years. It was only recently refurbished under the current administration.
“Today, this Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre can stand any other International Conference Centre,” Wike said.
Other Halls Named After Top Government Leaders
In addition to renaming the main facility, Wike revealed that several halls within the centre had been renamed to honour key figures in Nigeria’s current leadership. He said these figures had all played significant roles in supporting the FCT and its projects.
“We have named one hall Tajudeen Abbas hall, we have named Godswill Akpabio hall, and your Vice President, we have named one of these halls after the Vice President, and then the CJN, we have also named one of the halls after the CJN,” he said.
Wike pointed out that these names represent Nigeria’s three arms of government—executive, legislative, and judiciary—and reflect their collaboration in national development.
He explained that although the conference centre is a government property, naming the halls after these individuals was a way to acknowledge their contributions while maintaining the centre’s new identity under the President’s name.
Wike Praises Tinubu’s Leadership and Announces New Usage Policy
The Minister credited President Tinubu’s leadership for the successful rehabilitation of the ICC, which he said was achieved in just eight months. He said the renewed building now stands as a world-class centre fit for international events and official functions.
“Within eight months Mr President, this is what we have. And I agree that without your leadership, it wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.
Wike also announced a new policy on the use of the facility. He said ministries, government agencies, and the general public would now be required to pay to use the centre. According to him, this is to ensure proper maintenance and prevent the kind of neglect that affected the centre in the past.
“Whether you’re a Ministry, whether you’re an agency, you want to use this, you have to pay something,” Wike said. “Nothing like my brother, my sister is going to have a wedding. If you want to use a place like this, such a beautiful place, then you must drop something.”
He said the era of using government facilities without payment had ended. The new approach, he explained, will help maintain the building and ensure it remains in good shape for years to come.
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