Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike has conducted the final inspection of the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC), ahead of its commissioning by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
Wike also announced that the original builders of the facility, Julius Berger, will retain maintenance responsibilities under a strict user-pay system, in a move to address Nigeria’s chronic maintenance challenges.
He said the administration was breaking the cycle of abandoned projects, insisting that the Conference Centre is not another facility to hand over to political cronies to ruin.
The minister disclosed that the maintenance agreement includes direct contractor involvement, transparent payment structure and regular technology upgrades
Addressing concerns about technical management, Wike said, “Our fully trained Nigerian staff have undergone months of supervised preparation. The technology isn’t rocket science, it is user-friendly systems our people have mastered.”
He attributed the project’s success to three key factors which includes clear vision from President Tinubu, prudent financial management and civil service collaboration.
“Leadership is not about dictatorship, it is setting clear goals, working with competent civil servants, and removing obstacles. When we find non-performers, we act decisively.
“In this period of economic challenges, delivering world-class infrastructure represents our commitment to Abuja’s transformation. This ranks among my proudest achievements,” he said.
The 10,000-capacity conference Centre features cutting-edge acoustic systems, AI-assisted translation booths and renewable energy components.
President Tinubu is expected to commission the facility on Tuesday, with bookings already being processed for upcoming international events.
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