Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has revealed that the recently refurbished Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is already fully booked through to 2027.
The minister made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the Kugbo bus and taxi terminal—one of several infrastructure projects completed to mark President Tinubu’s second year in office.
Wike acknowledged that the FCT administration faced criticism over the N39 billion expenditure on upgrading the conference centre. However, he defended the investment, stating that Tinubu’s recent hosting of an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit at the venue demonstrated its value.
He said: “You know Nigerians can pretend. They like good things, but they pretend as if they don’t.”
“As I speak to you, that conference centre has been booked now till 2027. No space.
“In fact, I saw the application by the deputy speaker on constitutional amendment, but there is no space, no day, but I’m trying to adjust if he can pay on time, because it’s not free.
“There’s nothing like a national assembly this or that; you have to pay something for us to sustain the facility.”
He commended Tinubu for taking a decisive decision to move the country forward despite challenges.
“No leader can succeed without taking a decision because people will say something – people must say something because if you don’t take that decision, people will say something,” Wike said.
“If you take the decision, people will say something. Therefore, do something.
“For me, that’s all about what we are doing in FCT. We are not here to make only big men happy; we are here to make big men and poor people happy.
“That’s what will move this country forward, and that’s what the President has shown.”
The minister emphasised that the newly completed Kugbo and Mabushi bus and taxi terminals, along with the upcoming facility in the Central Business District, would significantly improve and regulate public transport operations across the Federal Capital Territory.
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