As Nigeria continues its drive to upgrade critical infrastructure, the country’s Federal Capital Territory is set to launch a fully renovated International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, offering high-spec amenities and a pioneering maintenance model.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who inspected the project on Monday, declared the facility ready for operation ahead of its formal commissioning by President Bola Tinubu.
“This is not just another government project,” Wike told reporters. “It is a new model of sustainability, where the builder stays responsible and the users pay for quality.”
The 10,000-seat venue, now equipped with cutting-edge acoustic design, artificial intelligence-supported language translation, and green energy solutions, is expected to become a centrepiece of Nigeria’s event-hosting capabilities.
Unlike many public facilities in Nigeria that fall into disrepair shortly after completion, the ICC will be maintained by its original contractors, Julius Berger, under a contract that links usage fees directly to upkeep.
“The agreement ensures ongoing care by professionals, transparent billing, and technology updates as needed,” said Wike. “We are determined not to let this investment go to waste.”
Responding to concerns about technical complexity, the minister assured that the facility’s systems are well within the capabilities of the local workforce.
“Our Nigerian staff have been thoroughly trained,” Wike said. “They’ve been part of this project from the start, supervised and certified to manage every system here.”
Wike attributed the project’s success to clear governance goals from President Tinubu, responsible budget oversight, and active coordination within the civil service.
“True leadership isn’t about power; it’s about purpose and results. In delivering this project, we’ve shown that world-class infrastructure is achievable,” he stated.
The centre is already accepting bookings for international functions, a sign of Nigeria’s growing ambition to be a regional convening point for diplomacy, trade, and development.
