Lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has raised serious concerns over the condition of the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, questioning the reported ₦39 billion renovation despite the centre’s apparent poor state.
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The ICC, originally built in 1991 under the Ibrahim Babangida administration, was recently refurbished and renamed in honour of President Bola Tinubu. The renovation was overseen by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the centre was commissioned in June 2025. Minister Wike has defended the massive expenditure, claiming the project was comprehensive and necessary to maintain Nigeria’s global stature. He asserted that nearly every component of the facility was replaced except the block structure, and that the renovation has generated approximately ₦700 million in revenue since its completion.
However, Adeyanju, who attended a birthday event at the ICC on July 19, 2025, described the facility as being in a deplorable condition. In a post on X on July 20, he stated that critical systems like air conditioning were non-functional, casting serious doubt on the reported renovation costs.
Adeyanju alleged, “I am convinced ₦5 billion was not put into the place for repairs. At most ₦3 billion was put in it. What happened at that place cannot be called anything else other than a scam.” His claims have sparked public debate about the transparency and accountability of the renovation project, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the ₦39 billion expenditure.
I attended the Seyi Vodi party yesterday at ICC and I felt so sorry for this country. The air conditioning was not working and I am convinced N5billion was not put into the place for repairs. At most N3bn was put in it. What happened at that place cannot be called anything else…
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) July 20, 2025
This is not the first time the FCT Minister’s handling of infrastructure projects has been criticized. Shortly after the ICC commissioning, human rights lawyer Prof. Chidi Odinkalu sharply criticized Wike’s management style, accusing him of diverting public funds to benefit political allies and calling into question the necessity of the ₦39 billion renovation, especially when critical sectors like healthcare and education suffer neglect.
Odinkalu also lamented other major spending projects in Abuja, such as the ₦21 billion upgrade of the Vice President’s residence, and expressed concern about the growing poverty rate and the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
While Minister Wike has dismissed critics and stood firmly behind the ICC renovation’s cost and quality, the allegations by Adeyanju and Odinkalu have intensified scrutiny on the project, raising questions about governance, fiscal responsibility, and the prioritization of public funds in the nation’s capital.
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