The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Nyesom Wike, for allegedly wasting N39 billion on renovating the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC), accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritizing self-glorification over national development.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, by the National Secretary of CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, the coalition described the expenditure as “a staggering misallocation of resources” and a “costly quest for immortality,” lamenting the neglect of critical sectors such as education and healthcare in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The FCTA’s reckless expenditure of N39 billion on refurbishing the already functional Abuja International Conference Centre, while critical sectors like education and healthcare crumble, is appalling,” the statement reads.
“Built in 1991 under General Ibrahim Babangida for N240 million, the ICC was a symbol of prudent national investment. Babangida never sought to name it after himself. Yet, Tinubu, whose administration merely renovated the facility at an outrageous cost, has renamed it the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.”
The CUPP also decried what it termed a “pattern of vanity projects,” referencing the recent renaming of other public institutions—including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic.
“These actions reek of personal branding and a desperate bid to rewrite history through paint and concrete, rather than through transformative leadership,” CUPP stated.
The coalition argued that the N39 billion allocated to the renovation could have been better spent on addressing urgent socio-economic challenges in the FCT.
“Primary school children have been out of school for three months due to underfunding and neglect. Primary healthcare centers and area councils are paralyzed by months-long strikes. These are the real emergencies demanding attention, not cosmetic renovations and name changes,” the statement said.
CUPP further criticized the administration’s failure to address inflation, insecurity, a decaying education system, and a failing healthcare sector, claiming the focus on immortalizing the president’s name is a betrayal of public trust.
“This is not leadership—it is a shameful betrayal of public trust. For context, N39 billion is not just a renovation budget; it is a staggering leap from the N240 million used to build the ICC from scratch. This gross mismanagement of resources demands accountability,” CUPP said.
The coalition called for a full investigation into the ICC renovation project and urged President Tinubu to redirect his focus to policies that will build a meaningful legacy.
“We urge President Tinubu to focus on building a legacy through tangible solutions—schools that educate, hospitals that heal, and industries that employ—rather than plastering his name on public assets,” it added.
“The time for misplaced priorities is over. Nigerians deserve leadership that uplifts the nation, not monuments to personal ambition.”
The statement concluded with a strong appeal for national leadership that reflects the needs of the people, not the glorification of individuals.
