Abuja, June 10, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to begin paying for the use of the newly rehabilitated Abuja International Conference Centre, now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
The directive came during the official commissioning of the N39 billion facility, which underwent a comprehensive eight-month renovation under the supervision of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
President Tinubu, who described the previous state of the centre as “dirty, disorganised, and uninhabitable,” said the era of free usage must end to ensure the facility’s sustainability and proper maintenance.
“You must obey what the landlord says. If you want to use this place, you must pay for it,” Tinubu stated during the ceremony.
FCT Minister Wike echoed the president’s stance, warning that no exceptions will be made for any group—public or private. He noted that all events, including government functions, weddings, and corporate programmes, must now attract usage fees.
“Whether it is a wedding, seminar, or government programme, if you book the place, you must pay. No more favoritism,” Wike said.
The decision is seen as part of the broader effort to reposition the FCT as a model of urban governance and infrastructure accountability. The newly renamed centre also includes halls dedicated to key figures across the three arms of government, reflecting what Senate President Godswill Akpabio called a “symbol of national unity and inter-institutional cooperation.”
