The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) generated a staggering ₦700 million within three weeks of operation—an amount far exceeding what previous managers remitted to the Federal Government annually.
Wike, speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at St. James’ Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, said the facility’s transformation and new management approach underscored the inefficiencies and poor oversight of past administrations.
The service was held in celebration of the recently concluded commissioning of major projects in the FCT by President Bola Tinubu, spanning 19 days.
Taking a swipe at the previous operators, Wike stated that the former concessionaire, whom he identified as being from Adamawa, only paid ₦50 million per year to the federal government for managing the iconic national facility.
“The man who was running the ICC is from Adamawa and he was paying ₦50 million to government every year,” Wike said. “These are the people who claim they want to rescue Nigeria. When we went there, the President said, ‘Look, this is an eyesore.’ That’s not the Nigeria we should present to the world.”
The FCT Minister explained that upon inspecting the rundown state of the conference centre, President Tinubu ordered its immediate closure and rehabilitation.
Wike said the reconstruction was completed within six to seven months, setting the stage for its relaunch under more transparent and accountable management.
“Within just three weeks of reopening, we have generated over ₦700 million. That’s the difference between visionless management and purposeful leadership,” he said.
The development has sparked fresh concerns over the mismanagement of federal assets under previous administrations, especially as questions mount about the terms of concession agreements and revenue leakages in national infrastructure projects.
Wike, known for his combative style and emphasis on results, also used the moment to reinforce the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to revenue generation, infrastructural renewal, and ending what he described as “decades of abuse and inefficiency.”
The newly commissioned Tinubu ICC is one of several projects delivered under Wike’s stewardship, which has seen the FCT undergo a wave of urban renewal since the minister assumed office.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the revelation comes amid increasing calls for a probe into past concession agreements and the need for transparency in the management of public infrastructure.
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