“Tinubu’s Legacy Shines! Wike Reveals Centre Fully Booked For 3 Years”

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT, revealed that all slots at the refurbished Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre have been taken until 2027.

The International Conference Centre (ICC) was officially inaugurated on June 10 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following its rehabilitation by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration under Minister Nyesom Wike.

However, the project sparked criticism from various political figures and groups, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, who labelled the renovation as a wasteful expenditure. Obi argued that the N39 billion allocated for the project could have been better spent on Nigeria’s struggling education and healthcare sectors.

During the commissioning, Wike emphasized that the ICC would not be made available for free and that any group, organisation, or individual seeking to use the facility must pay.

Surprisingly, Wike later revealed that the demand for the newly refurbished facility has been overwhelming, with bookings already filled up until 2027. Speaking on Thursday at the commissioning of the Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja, he said the interest in the ICC has put him in a difficult position as he tries to accommodate more requests.

According to Wike, even the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, led by the Deputy Speaker, recently submitted a request to use the ICC—only to find that no dates are currently available.

“Nigerians pretend,” Wike remarked. “They claim not to like certain things, but they actually do. That Conference Centre is now booked solid until 2027—no space at all. I just saw an application from the Deputy Speaker on constitutional amendment activities, but there’s no available day.

“I’m trying to see how we can adjust things if they’re ready to pay on time. Because nothing is free. Not even for the National Assembly. Everyone must pay something so we can sustain the facility. Yes, they help us pass the budget, but that doesn’t cover this. Sustainability is key—no one wants the ICC to return to the state it was in before,” Wike said.