Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT) Nyesom Wike has conducted a final inspection of the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC), declaring it ready for Tuesday’s commissioning and immediate operational use.
The minister disclosed this yesterday, after inspecting the renovated ICC, the Outer Southern Expressway going to Wassa, and the Gishiri road construction project.
In a move to address Nigeria’s chronic maintenance challenges, Wike also announced that original builders Julius Berger will retain maintenance responsibilities under a strict user-pay system.
He said that the administration is breaking the cycle of abandoned projects, adding that the International Conference Centre is not another facility they will hand to political cronies to ruin, saying that Julius Berger built it, they will maintain it, and every user will pay for upkeep.
The minister emphasised that the maintenance agreement includes direct contractor involvement, a transparent payment structure and regular technology upgrades.
“The centre will be maintained by Julius Berger, the company that built it. We’re not going to hand it over to any politician to manage. Maintenance is a significant challenge in this country, and we’re committed to doing things differently.
“The agreement with Julius Beggar will ensure that maintenance is done properly. We’re working on the details, and once the agreement is signed, we’ll make sure that anyone who uses the centre pays for maintenance.
“Don’t worry about the new technology; the company that provided it will handle maintenance. The staff working there are Nigerians who have been supervised by us. The technology isn’t complicated, and we’ll start operations soon after commissioning,” he said.
Wike while addressing concerns about technical management, said, “Our fully trained Nigerian staff have undergone months of supervised preparation. The technology isn’t rocket science, it is user-friendly systems our people have mastered.”
He attributed the project’s success to three key factors, including President Tinubu’s clear vision, prudent financial management, and civil service collaboration.
“Leadership is not about dictatorship. It is setting clear goals, working with competent civil servants, and removing obstacles. When we find non-performers, we act decisively.
“In this period of economic challenges, delivering world-class infrastructure represents our commitment to Abuja’s transformation. This ranks among my proudest achievements,” he said.
The 10,000-capacity conference centre features, cutting-edge acoustic systems, AI-assisted translation booths and renewable energy components.
President Tinubu is expected to commission the facility today, with bookings already being processed for upcoming international events.
