The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has renamed the renovated Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC) after President Bola Tinubu.
Constructed in 1991 during the Ibrahim Babangida regime, the AICC has been a key venue for official government events, global conferences, trade exhibitions, and corporate gatherings.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the renovated building on Tuesday, Wike described the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is a “world-class” structure requiring constant maintenance.
The minister noted that halls at the centre were also named after some federal government officials.
“Since it is under you (Tinubu), the halls should bear smaller names. However, the main structure should remain the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre,” Wike said.
“We have named one hall after Tajudeen Abbas, another after Godswill Akpabio, and one after the Vice President. We also named a hall after the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). This represents the three arms of government working together.”
Speaking further, Wike said it was important for the public to understand why the centre was renamed after Tinubu.
“This conference centre was built in 1991 under the military government. Since that time, nothing has happened to this International Conference Centre,” he said.
“Last year, you (Tinubu) came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS parliament. It was an embarrassment for a country to have this as the ICC and you said, ‘How can we have this as the ICC?’ That shows leadership.
“You said next time you come here, you want to see a different International Conference Centre.
“Within eight months Mr President, this is what we have. Without your leadership, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
In March, the minister announced that the renovation would cost N39 billion.
