- The minister expressed disappointment with the facility’s previous management
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has suspended all scheduled activities at the International Conference Centre for eight months.
Recall that Wike had previously revoked Messrs Integrated Facility Management Services Limited’s management contract and re-awarded it to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for immediate comprehensive renovation of the centre.
The minister expressed disappointment with the facility’s previous management, noting that it had been allowed to deteriorate.
He added that the project was handed over to the facility’s original designers, Messrs Julius Berger Limited, to renovate before being turned over to the management of the Abuja Investment Company Limited.
“We have gone round; you and I know it is unacceptable. No way can we accept this as an International Conference Centre. You can call it a conference centre, but not international. We cannot continue to be embarrassed in this way. So, we are sorry to announce that every booking meant to be used here is cancelled. We will start immediately rehabilitating this centre to meet international standards.
‘’We have called the original contractor that built this tower, Julius Berger, to come back, because bringing a new contractor would take us time. We believe that in the next seven to eight months, we will be able to do something that people will appreciate. And then that means the FCDA will now take over the rehabilitation with Julius Berger, and then hand it over to Abuja Investment Company,” he said.
The Minister also stated that he would not probe the previous contractor on their handling of the facility but warned that he would “wave the big stick” on the new Managing Director of the AICL if she fails to meet.
“I’m not here to probe anybody. I don’t want to begin to find excuses why the jobs are not being done well. The Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company knows what to do; mine is to give the country a befitting International Conference Centre. And if she does not do it well, we have no choice but to wield the big stick, but I believe she has the capacity to run it well,” Wike said.