Abuja, June 10, 2025
The renaming of the iconic Abuja International Conference Centre to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre has sparked nationwide outrage, with critics calling it an abuse of power and a breach of constitutional process.
Commissioned Monday by President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the move has drawn backlash from legal experts and civic groups who insist such a change requires an Act of the National Assembly.
“This is state capture,” said one civic advocate. “Renaming a national monument without legislative approval sets a dangerous precedent.”
Built in 1991 under the IBB administration, the ICC has never been renamed until now. Minister Wike defended the decision, citing Tinubu’s approval and funding of the ₦39 billion renovation, while also announcing that internal halls were renamed after top government officials.
While allies hail the gesture as well-deserved, opponents see it as a political branding of public property. The National Assembly has yet to issue a formal response.
