However, there are concerns over the cost of renovating the edifice, which gulped the sum of N39 billion. Bar inflationary effects over time, the sum is 162 times more than N240 million used to build the centre in 1991 by the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) regime.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the newly renovated International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, 14 months after its closure for upgrades. Accompanied by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Tinubu commended the transformation of the formerly “very dirty, disorganised and uninhabitable” facility, positioning it as a cornerstone for “regional diplomacy, continental trade discussions, and global partnerships” aligned with the “Nigerian First philosophy.” The centre was also renamed in Tinubu’s honour.
However, the renovation’s N39 billion cost has drawn criticism, especially when compared to the original N240 million spent to build the centre in 1991. Stakeholders have raised concerns about the opportunity cost, noting that the funds could have significantly improved Nigeria’s struggling education and health sectors.
According to budgetary estimates, the same N39 billion could construct over 1,200 classrooms or 312 primary healthcare centres. Education budget figures show that just N40.5 billion is allocated nationwide for public school rehabilitation in 2025. “This sum exceeds capital allocations for 12 federal universities combined,” noted a Weekend Trust report. In many rural communities, students still learn under trees or in derelict buildings, highlighting what critics say is a misplaced spending priority in a country grappling with infrastructural deficits.
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