Fourteen months after the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja was closed for renovation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, officially inaugurated the refurbished facility on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The event was marked by fanfare as the minister renamed the national landmark the “Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre”.
Scope and Cost of Renovation
The ICC, originally built in 1991 for N240 million during the Babangida regime, underwent a massive overhaul at a cost of N39 billion. Minister Wike defended the expenditure, citing inflation, the need for “taste,” and the desire to deliver a “world-class” facility. According to Wike, “Everything in that Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre was changed,” except for the block work, and the halls were also renamed after top federal officials, reflecting the three arms of government.
Public Criticism and Opportunity Cost
The renovation cost has sparked widespread criticism, with analysts and commentators questioning the justification for such a large outlay on a single project. Critics note that the N39 billion spent is 162 times the original construction cost, even after accounting for inflation. For perspective, the sum could build 600 blocks of two modern classrooms each (1,200 classrooms), or cover the combined capital expenditures of 12 federal universities in the 2025 budget. It is also roughly equivalent to the capital budgets of nine federal medical centres, highlighting the scale of the investment compared to pressing needs in education and health infrastructure.
Nigeria continues to face severe deficits in both sectors. Many rural schools are dilapidated, lacking basic amenities, while 80% of the country’s 30,000 primary healthcare centres fall below standard. In 2016 alone, inadequate healthcare access was linked to over 376,000 deaths, according to global health reports.
Government’s Position
Minister Wike dismissed the criticism, insisting that the project was necessary to restore Nigeria’s image and provide a befitting venue for international diplomacy and business. He argued that those questioning the cost “don’t have good taste” and that the president’s leadership was key to delivering the project within eight months.
Budget Context
The 2025 federal budget allocates N3.5 trillion to education and N2.56 trillion to health, but both sectors remain underfunded relative to population needs and international benchmarks. The N39 billion ICC renovation thus stands out as a significant capital expenditure at a time when many Nigerians are calling for greater investment in essential public services.
Recap
While the newly inaugurated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is now positioned as a “world-class” facility for diplomacy and trade, its N39 billion price tag has ignited debate about government spending priorities amid ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s education and health sectors.
