Wike stated that the renaming was done to honor President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, which he credited for the completion of the center’s renovation. He also announced that other halls within the complex would be named after Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and ChiefJustice of Nigeria Kekere-Ekun.
The Minister emphasized that going forward, all ministries and government agencies will be required to pay to use the conference center to ensure its proper maintenance. He highlighted that the facility, initially built in 1991, had been largely neglected until President Tinubu’s intervention.
The renovation project cost N39 billion, a figure that had previously drawn public criticism. Wike defended the expense, asserting that President Tinubu approved the funds and that the upgrade was essential for Nigeria’s global image.
President Tinubu attended the inauguration and encouraged Wike to focus on his mandate to transform Abuja, dismissing distractions from critics.
