The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has officially renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC) in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This announcement was made during the commissioning ceremony of the newly renovated facility, held on Tuesday in Abuja. Speaking at the event, Wike disclosed that the facility will now be known as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, describing it as a world-class infrastructure that requires consistent upkeep.
Wike emphasized that all individuals utilizing the premises, regardless of social standing, will be required to pay usage and maintenance fees to ensure sustainability.
In April 2024, the Conference Centre was shut down for an initial eight-month period, with all scheduled events and bookings cancelled. The closure was attributed to years of inadequate maintenance under the previous management, Integrated Facility Management Services Limited.
The renovation contract was subsequently awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, with the FCT Administration confirming that post-renovation, management responsibility would revert to the Abuja Investment Company Limited.
During a follow-up briefing on Monday, the minister affirmed that the FCT Administration is finalizing a formal maintenance agreement with Julius Berger. He described the neglect of public infrastructure maintenance as a national issue, stating that the administration is taking a new approach to facility management.
“The centre will be maintained by Julius Berger, the original builders. We have no intention of handing this over to any political appointee or private operator. Maintenance is a major challenge in this country, and we are determined to address it differently,” Wike stated.
He further assured that the newly installed technologies within the facility are user-friendly and will be managed by local staff under supervision.
“There’s no need for concern about the technology; it’s manageable. The vendor will support ongoing maintenance, and the staff, who are Nigerians, have been trained to operate the systems. We are ready to commence operations immediately following today’s commissioning,” he concluded.
