MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja is fully booked until 2027.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Kugbo Bus Terminal today, Wike revealed that despite criticism over the N39 billion renovation cost, demand for the facility remains high.
He said that even the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is struggling to secure a date for its proposed confab due to lack of available space.
“You know Nigerians like good things but pretend they don’t,” Wike said. “That conference centre is fully booked till 2027—no space. I even received an application from the Deputy Speaker on constitutional amendment. There’s no available day.”
Wike emphasized that although the National Assembly passes the FCT budget, it must still pay to use the facility, as sustainability is essential. “It’s not free. You have to pay something for us to maintain the facility,” he said.
At the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who represented President Bola Tinubu, appealed to the minister to refund earlier bookings in order to accommodate the constitutional review conference. He also urged that bookings not extend into 2028, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) would need the space to celebrate after the next general elections.
“We’re inviting international guests and want to showcase the best of Nigeria. Please, find a way to make room for the confab. Don’t let it be booked through 2028,” Akpabio added.
President Tinubu commissioned the refurbished facility—formerly the Abuja International Conference Centre—on June 10, 2025, as part of events marking his second year in office.
Critics, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, have questioned the high renovation cost, suggesting it could have been better spent on sectors like education.