ABUJA, Nigeria — In a move that has ignited both applause and acrimony, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially reopened and rechristened the dilapidated Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Declaring that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must now pay to use the revamped facility, Tinubu asserts this transformation under his Renewed Hope Agenda will position Nigeria as a premier hub for diplomacy and trade on the African continent.
Yet critics contend the renaming smacks of self-aggrandisement and question whether pay-to-play fees will truly secure the Centre’s future or simply erect fresh barriers for domestic users.
A Legacy of Neglect and the Jarring Revelation
Commissioned in 1991 under the late General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime, the ICC languished for over three decades without substantial maintenance, culminating in a squalid interior that appalled President Tinubu during the 2024 ECOWAS Parliament conference.
“The environment was dirty, disorganised, uninhabitable… Have we sunk this low?” Tinubu recalled, challenging Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to “transform the place”.
Indeed, with no major refurbishment since its opening, the Centre stood as a glaring symbol of governmental apathy towards national assets.
A Whopping N39 Billion Renovation: Value or Vanity?
Under Wike’s directive, the ICC was shuttered in April 2024 for a blitz rehabilitation lasting eight months. Awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc—original builders of the Centre—the contract reportedly surged to N39 billion, encompassing structural overhaul, modern audiovisual suites, and upgraded hospitality wings.
While supporters hail the project as overdue investment, detractors – including anti-corruption advocates – question the opacity of costs and the speed of execution, suggesting corners may have been cut amid the rush for a high-profile unveiling.
Renaming Controversy: Honour or Hubris?
At the inauguration, Wike unveiled the Centre’s new title in Tinubu’s honour, while also christening halls after Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, lauding inter-branch collaboration under “Nigeria First”.
Yet, naming the nation’s flagship conference venue after a sitting president is unprecedented in recent history, drawing ire from opposition parties and civil society groups who decry the politicisation of public infrastructure at a time of pressing socio-economic challenges.
The Payment Mandate: Sustainability or Selective Access
In a bid to forestall future decay, President Tinubu announced that MDAs, private organisations and event planners must remit usage fees—a departure from the erstwhile “free-for-all” system.
“No such thing as ‘my brother’ or ‘my sister’ wants to use it for a wedding… If you want to use a beautiful place like this, you must pay something,” Minister Wike emphasised, framing the levy as financial discipline essential for longevity.
Proponents argue this model mirrors global best practice in venue management, yet critics warn it may restrict access for smaller NGOs, civic groups and start-ups, effectively privileging well-heeled interests.
Strategic Ambitions: Nigeria First or Just More Noise?
Tinubu positions the revamped ICC at the core of his administration’s vision to bolster regional diplomacy, continental trade dialogues and global partnerships, reflecting a broader thrust to elevate Nigeria’s international clout.
“The International Conference Centre is part of our larger vision… that reflect our ‘Nigeria First’ principle,” he stated, spotlighting plans to refurbish critical sectors including transport, healthcare, education, energy and urban development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nonetheless, analysts caution that without parallel investment in human capital and transparent governance, grand edifices risk becoming mere façades masking deeper shortcomings.
Maintenance Culture: Breakthrough or Blame Game
Highlighting endemic neglect, Wike lamented that previous managers “killed the place” through poor maintenance and unpaid booking fees, leading to the ICC’s decay.
By entrusting Julius Berger with ongoing facility management and mandating usage charges, the FCT Administration seeks to embed a culture of accountability and professional stewardship.
However, the success of this paradigm shift will hinge on robust oversight and ring-fenced funds—a tall order in a system long plagued by fiscal indiscipline.
Looking Ahead: Can Renaming Translate to Results?
As President Tinubu commemorates his second anniversary in office with a cascade of capital projects in the FCT, the renamed ICC stands as a potent symbol of his leadership style—combining spectacle, ambition and pointed directives.
Whether this spectacle blooms into sustained prosperity for Nigeria’s conference tourism and diplomatic engagements, or flounders under the weight of fees, perception and politics, remains to be seen.
What is incontestable, however, is that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre will now bear the weight of expectation—and scrutiny—far heavier than its erstwhile moniker ever did.
Atlantic Post writer Peter Jene contributed to this report.
