Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hailed the N39 billion renovation of the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
He believes the upgrade is important and reflects Nigeria’s status as a leading nation in Africa.
Speaking on Friday during the commissioning of the newly constructed left-hand service carriageway in Abuja, Wike addressed the criticism surrounding the project’s cost and the extent of the renovation.
He emphasized that almost everything in the building had been completely updated, except for the main structure.
Wike also responded to concerns about changing the name of the centre, noting that many important places in Nigeria are named after people who didn’t actually build them.
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For example, he mentioned that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Moshood Abiola Stadium were named after those figures, even though they weren’t the ones who constructed them.
To explain the high cost of the renovation, Wike cited inflation and the decline in currency value, comparing the current expenses to the much lower costs back in 1991.
“We have a taste for quality. We want the best for our country, and I believe the president has provided just that,” he stated confidently.
Wike also expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu, whose administration oversaw the renovation, saying he’s proud to defend the president’s choices and has no regrets about doing so.
