Wike says Tinubu conference centre in Abuja is fully booked till 2027, despite public backlash over its N39bn renovation cost

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ederal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja is already fully booked until 2027.

Also read: Abuja Conference Centre renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Centre

Wike made this known on Thursday during the inauguration of the Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja. He dismissed criticisms over the N39 billion renovation cost, emphasising that the centre’s high demand speaks to its quality and relevance.

“You know, Nigerians pretend. They like good things, but they will pretend as if they don’t,” Wike said.

“That Conference Centre has been booked now till 2027, no space. In fact, I saw an application by the Deputy Speaker on Constitutional Amendment. There’s no space, no day.”

The ICC, formerly known as the Abuja International Conference Centre, was unveiled by President Bola Tinubu on June 10, 2025, to mark his second year in office. Since its reopening, it has been a centre of debate due to its hefty renovation cost.

Prominent voices, including Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, criticised the N39 billion investment, arguing it could have been used to address more pressing developmental issues like education and healthcare.

However, Wike defended the decision, stressing that sustainability of public infrastructure requires long-term planning and user accountability.

That Conference Centre has been booked now till 2027, no space… Even the Deputy Speaker couldn’t get a date.

“I’m trying to adjust if he (the Deputy Speaker) can pay on time. Because it’s not free. There’s nothing like ‘it’s the National Assembly.’ You have to pay something for us to sustain the facility. Yes, you are helping us to pass our budget, but this is not about that. Sustainability is key—you wouldn’t want it to return to the poor state it was in before,” Wike said.

Also speaking at the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who represented President Tinubu, pleaded with the Minister to reconsider the National Assembly’s application to use the ICC for its upcoming constitutional conference.

“I’m not happy to hear that the Constitutional Confab we are planning won’t have space in the ICC. Because of what you’ve done, it’s booked till 2027,” Akpabio said.

He urged Wike to prioritise national interest, even if it meant refunding other bookings.

“Please find a way to return the money to those who booked. We will pay. We’re inviting international guests—we want them to see the good things happening in Nigeria,” he said.

The Tinubu International Conference Centre has rapidly become a symbol of the administration’s infrastructural ambitions, but also a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over priorities in governance.