Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, has strongly criticized the ₦39 billion renovation of the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) and its renaming after President Bola Tinubu. Fayose highlighted that the ICC was originally built in 1991 by then-military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida for just ₦240 million, calling the current expenditure an excessive “ego construction” rather than a necessary national development.
In a video posted on social media, Fayose questioned the justification for spending such a huge sum on renovation instead of building a new facility, especially amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic hardships, inflation, and insecurity. He pointed out that Babangida, who commissioned the original ICC, never named it after himself, contrasting this with the current administration’s decision to rename the centre the “Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre” following the renovation.
Fayose accused President Tinubu and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of prioritizing personal branding over addressing critical issues affecting Nigerians. The ₦39 billion renovation, which Wike defended as essential and approved by Tinubu, has drawn widespread criticism from Nigerians who argue the centre only needed slight maintenance rather than a multibillion-naira facelift.
The renaming and costly refurbishment have sparked public debate about government spending priorities, with many questioning the timing and scale of the project given the country’s economic challenges. Fayose’s remarks reflect growing frustration among citizens who feel that leadership should focus more on alleviating hardship than on symbolic gestures.
The ICC, a landmark built to host international events and summits, had suffered years of neglect before the recent overhaul. While the government touts the renovation as a boost to Nigeria’s global image and infrastructure, critics remain unconvinced about the necessity and cost of the project.
