Abuja: The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the recently rehabilitated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre is fully booked till 2027.
Wike disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, during the inauguration of the Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal by President Bola Tinubu, marking his second year in office.
He recalled that the FCT Administration came under criticism for spending considerable resources to rehabilitate and upgrade the conference centre to international standards.
Wike stated that some people had condemned the decision to refurbish the centre, noting that Tinubu had recently hosted an ECOWAS meeting at the centre.
According to him, people and organisations are now rushing to hold their events in the edifice.
“You know Nigerians can pretend. They like good things, but they pretend as if they don’t.
“As I speak to you, that conference centre has been booked now till 2027. No space.
“I saw the application by the Deputy Speaker on constitutional amendment, but there is no space, no day, but I’m trying to adjust if he can pay on time because it’s not free.
“There’s nothing like a national assembly this or that; you have to pay something for us to sustain the facility,” he said.
He commended Tinubu for taking a decisive decision to move the country forward.
Wike noted that the country is experiencing some challenges, adding that that’s the essence of leadership.
According to him, no leader can succeed without making decisions that might come with criticism.
“No leader can succeed without deciding because people will say something – people must say something because even if you don’t take that decision, people will still say something.
“If you take the decision, people will say something. Therefore, do something.
“For me, that’s all about what we are doing in FCT. We are not here to make only the rich happy; we are here to make the rich and the poor happy.
“That’s what will move this country forward, and that’s what the President has shown.”
He explained that the Kugbo bus terminal, being inaugurated alongside its counterparts in Mabushi and the Central Business District, which is under construction, would sanitise public transportation in the FCT.
