How We Generated N650m from Tinubu’s Conference Centre in Three Weeks — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre generated a staggering ₦650 million in just three weeks after it was inaugurated on June 10, 2025— a massive leap from the ₦50 million the facility previously earned annually.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike attributed the revenue spike to the improved quality of the centre following its recent ₦39 billion upgrade, which has drawn both widespread bookings and public criticism over cost and naming.

“Now let me tell you how this country works. The man they gave it to before was paying ₦50 million to the FCT every year. But since we commissioned that place on June 10, we’ve made ₦650 million in three weeks. Why? Because people love good things,” Wike stated.

He added that the newly renovated centre has quickly become a preferred venue for high-level events, including the recent ECOWAS Heads of State meeting hosted by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, international diplomats and ambassadors have praised the facility, leading to a rush in bookings.

“In fact, there’s no space. As I speak, it has been booked up to 2027,” he added.

Wike also addressed the backlash over renaming the centre after President Tinubu, defending the decision amidst criticism from political quarters and social commentators.

“You’re saying, ‘why did I name it after Tinubu?’ Who should I name it after? Who is more qualified?” he asked.

The project’s cost and renaming sparked controversy earlier this year, with critics questioning the priority of spending ₦39 billion on a single facility amid other pressing needs in the FCT. However, Wike insists the investment has already proven its value both in terms of revenue and prestige.

“This country is a place where if you begin to pay attention to frivolities, you won’t achieve anything,” he said.

With the conference centre now fully booked for the next two years, Wike’s remarks suggest the administration sees the project not just as a symbolic legacy of President Tinubu’s name, but as a viable revenue-generating asset for the capital.