Tinubu Tells Wike To Ignore Naysayers, Focus On FCT Development

President Bola Tinubu has advised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to disregard distractions from critics and remain focused on delivering his mandate.

The president made the statement on Tuesday during the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, a project handled by Julius Berger.

Commending Wike for his efforts, Tinubu described him as a transformational leader with foresight and determination. He added that the renewed ICC reflects his administration’s commitment to doing things differently and raising national standards.

“Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders,” Tinubu told Wike. “Whatever they say, continue your good work. You have the foresight and the will to succeed.”

Earlier in his remarks, Wike had praised the president for his leadership, saying the directive to rehabilitate the centre came directly from Tinubu. He revealed that, despite facing unnamed pressure from certain quarters during the project, he remained focused on the assignment.

The minister recalled that the ICC, built in 1991 during General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime, had not undergone any major renovation until now, calling its previous condition an “eyesore.”

He also stressed that moving forward, all ministries and government agencies intending to use the centre must pay for it, noting that payment is essential to sustaining and maintaining the facility.

“How do we sustain this?” Wike asked. “Whether you’re a ministry or agency, you must pay something. There’s no more ‘my brother or sister is having a wedding.’ If you want to use a place like this, you must drop something.”

President Tinubu echoed Wike’s position, insisting that proper maintenance would only be possible if the facility is financially self-sustaining. The rehabilitated venue has now been renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.