No Going Back On Infrastructure Upgrade, Says President Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s critical infrastructure across key sectors as part of efforts to spur economic growth and national development.

The president gave this assurance during the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, renamed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

Speaking at the event, President Tinubu emphasised that infrastructure renewal is central to his Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that modern infrastructure forms the backbone of a productive economy.

“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are determined to renew infrastructure across the key sectors of this country—transportation, healthcare, education, energy, and urban development,” he said. “We understand that modern infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving economy in an inclusive and progressive society.”

He noted that the transformation of the ICC reflects a broader national vision to position Nigeria as a hub for regional diplomacy, continental trade, and global partnerships.

Commending the FCT Minister for delivering on his promise, Tinubu urged Wike to remain focused despite public criticism.

“Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and the bystanders, whatever they say. Continue with your good work. You are a transformational leader; you have the foresight, the vision, and determination to succeed,” the president said.

Tinubu recalled his disappointment during a previous visit to the ICC for the ECOWAS Parliament Conference, describing the facility then as “very dirty, disorganised, and not habitable.” He said he questioned whether the state of the centre reflected Nigeria’s values, to which Wike had promised to undertake a complete rehabilitation.

“Today, we are not talking about renegotiation, we are talking about rehabilitation. We are talking about quality, commitment to detail, and good work,” Tinubu declared.

He described the newly refurbished ICC as a symbol of Nigeria’s ethos of self-belief, progress, and national renewal.

“Whatever might be wrong today is a sign of a good thing that we are correcting. We are reflecting, renewing our hope, and believing in ourselves — in what we can do, in what Nigeria can be: the greatest nation on earth,” he added.

The president ended his remarks on a light but firm note, saying: “You must obey what the landlord says. You want to use this place, you got to pay for it.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who also spoke at the event, praised both President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for the renovation. He described the previous state of the ICC as a national embarrassment and recounted how the president had expressed his dismay during the ECOWAS Parliament meeting.

“We managed to get a small generator working. This place was dark. This place was in a total state of disrepair. And you were shocked,” Akpabio said.

He commended the quality of the rehabilitation and acknowledged the naming of halls after key national figures, including himself, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, saying it was a symbol of unity among the three arms of government.

Minister Wike, in his remarks, described the renovated centre as a world-class facility and stressed the importance of sustaining it through proper maintenance and revenue generation.

“Anybody that would use the renovated ICC must be ready to pay, irrespective of his or her status. There is nothing like my brother or my sister going to have a wedding. If you want to use such a beautiful place like this, then you must drop something,” Wike said.

He also revealed that the previous handlers of the facility had stalled the rehabilitation through court action, but with the president’s support, the project was completed.

Present at the ceremony were Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.