Why we’re spending N39bn on rehabilitation of Abuja ICC – Wike

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike has explained that the government is doing a total rehabilitation of the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, at the cost of 39 billion Naira, so as to bring it back to life to be befitting  for conferences and meetings of other countries that would be coming to the nation’s capital city.

Wike, who spoke yesterday during the inspection of ongoing projects, revealed that the ICC has attained about 70 to 80 percentage of work.

He added with the materials on ground, Julius Berger, the contractors handling the project  have assured that they would complete it and hand over by May 2025.

According to him: “It’s unfortunate that the whole place died. This (ICC) 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.

“So, I’m happy what is going on. Julius Berger had promised us that they are going to complete it. This is at the cost of 39 billion naira that we’re spending.”

He continued: “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.

“We’re happy with the work, and I can assure you, come May, by the grace of God, all of us will come here with happiness.

“Thanking God and thanking Mr. President, for the support. Because if it’s a president that has no foresight, maybe, like it has been here all these years, where other Presidents have come and gone.

“Nobody deemed it necessary to say Nigeria must have an international conference that’s befitting of a nation like Nigeria. But he came here and said, no, this cannot continue. We have to give the country the best, and that’s what he is doing here today.”