
Wike Stands by Decision to Name Conference Centre After Tinubu
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike , has defended the renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu .
He made the remarks in Abuja on Friday , during the inauguration of the completed 15-kilometre left-hand service carriage way of OSEX Stage II , from Ring Road I to Wassa Junction .
The decision to rename the facility as the Tinubu International Conference Centre sparked criticism from some members of the public.
Others questioned the N39 billion spent on its renovation, calling it a misplaced priority .
“I Have No Regret at All,” Says Wike
In response to the backlash, Wike said:
“I have done it, and I have no regret at all.”
He asked why some people were criticising the naming of the venue after the president.
He noted that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was not built by Azikiwe, and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium was not built by Abiola either.
According to Wike, those who opposed the rehabilitation of the centre lack good taste and a sense of national pride.
“The only thing that was not changed in the centre was the structure—everything else was upgraded,” he added.
Critics Out of Touch With Time, Exchange Rate – Wike
Wike also dismissed claims that spending N39 billion on the project was excessive.
He pointed out that the original cost of building the centre was N240 million in 1991 , and urged critics to compare that with current economic realities.
“What was the exchange rate in 1991 compared to today? We are now in 2025.”
He argued that Nigeria must be proud of its major infrastructure projects if it wants to maintain its status as the giant of Africa .
“Nobody who loves this country will criticise the rehabilitation of the international conference centre.”
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