By Sarah NEGEDU
Approximately N39 billion has been committed to the ongoing renovation of the International Conference Center, ICC, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has disclosed.
According to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the huge investment is required for the complete rehabilitation and renovation of the national edifice to make it a befitting conference center of global standards.
The minister who disclosed this during an inspection visit to the ICC, expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far, said he is confident that the centre will be ready for commissioning by May this year.
“So I’m happy with what is going on. Julius Berger had promised us that they are going to complete it. This is at the cost of N39 billion that we’re spending. N39 billion is not N39 million.
“All the materials are all on ground, and when you want to talk about percentage of work, you don’t just talk about just work, you also have to have the materials on ground. So I can say that they are 70 to 80 percent, and they have assured that they would complete it and hand over by May.”
In April 2024, the ICC was shot down for comprehensive renovation, following what the minister described as avoidable embarrassments before the international community, as a result of power outages, poor cooling system, and general decay of the facility.
Going down memory lane on the history of conception of the international Conference Center, the minister criticized the ethnic and religious manipulations permitted to affect the development of the center.
In his words, “It’s unfortunate like I’ve always said, after that period, the whole place died. This was given to one senator, who was making money out of it, but killing the edifice.
“We of course, had to take a drastic decision. Ethnicity came in, religion came in, all because it’s from so so person, and that’s a major problem in this country. You are not able to take a decision because you are from so so place, but because you worship the so so and so, and I said No, that’s not my business. He went to court but you can’t stop this.”
He however argued that the total rehabilitation of the international conference center will not just improve the architectural landscape of the FCT, but also boost the economy of the territory.
The minister further added, “To everybody’s happiness that you’re from a country like this, you cannot talk about a befitting conference center. Then what is the essence of Nigeria, the biggest nation? Are we just big by name? We travel all over the world, and we see everything, why should our own be different?
“So we’re giving Nigerians the best, and I thank God for the support of Mr. President, who said we can continue to have this, and from what you’ve seen, really, it’s an international conference center.”
