Wike: Tinubu conference centre made N650m in three weeks — people are rushing it

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre generated N650 million three weeks after inauguration.

Speaking at a media parley on Thursday, Wike said the conference centre was completely renovated, adding that “the only thing that we didn’t do in that structure was to bring the whole thing down”.

He said before the renovation of the conference centre, the FCT received a revenue of N50 million annually.

“Now let me tell you how this country works. The man they gave it (conference centre) to was paying N50 million to the FCT every year. That place was commissioned on June 10, and the revenue made within three weeks was N650 million. Why? People love good things,” he said.

“The president hosted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of state in that international conference centre. Go and see the comments from ambassadors. People are rushing that place now.

“In fact, there’s no space. As I speak, it has been booked up to 2027.”

Wike said when he initially shut down the centre, he received a lot of comments from politicians and top government officials.

“The country we’re in is a place that if you begin to pay attention to frivolities, you won’t achieve anything,” he said.

“And now you’re saying, why did I name it after Tinubu. Who should I name it after? Who is more qualified?”

The FCT administration came under criticism for spending N39 billion to upgrade the conference centre.

Wike was also criticised for naming the renovated facility after the president.