Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has suspended all activities scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre for eight months.
Recall that Wike had earlier revoked the management contract by Messrs Integrated Facility Management Services Limited and re-awarded the same to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for immediate comprehensive renovation of the centre.
The minister expressed disappointment with the previous management of the facility, noting that the centre had been left to dilapidate.
He added that the project was handed over to the original designers of the facility, Messrs Julius Berger Limited, to renovate, before handing it over to the m*anagement of the Abuja Investment Company Limited.
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“We have gone round; you and I know that it is unacceptable. No way we can accept this as an International Conference Centre. You can call this a conference centre, but not international. We cannot continue to be embarrassed in this way. So, we are sorry to announce this, every booking meant to be used here is cancelled. Because we will start immediate rehabilitation of this centre, to meet up with international standards.
‘’We have called the original contractor that built this edifice, Julius Berger, to come back, because if we had brought a new contractor, it 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 up henceforth.
“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 weild the big stick, but I believe she has the capacity to run it well,” Wike said.
