Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike announced on Monday that the International Conference Centre (ICC) would be closed for eight months due to a lack of maintenance.
Following an inspection of the facilities, the Minister announced that all events and activities scheduled at the site would be cancelled.
While expressing concern with the status of the facility during the inspection, Wike questioned why the contract for the upkeep of such an edifice built for international events would be turned over to an inept firm.
He lamented that on several occasions, the nation has faced avoidable embarrassments before the international community while using the facility as a result of power outages, poor cooling system and the deplorable state of the place.
He announced with immediate effect, the contract for the comprehensive renovation of the International Conference Center had been awarded to Julius Berger for a period of eight months.
The Minister added that the facility will be handed back to the Abuja Investment Company Limited after renovation.
Wike last week revoked the contract of the previous contractors, Messrs Integrated Facility Management Services Limited and awarded the contract to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, for “the immediate comprehensive renovation” of the ICC.
The Minister said: “It is very unfortunate, so many leaders meant well but those of us who have the opportunity to be among hide that will benefit at the end of the day set back the whole essence of good leadership.
“I told you we came here for the ecowas inauguration last week with Mr president, no right thinking human being would like to see an international location of that nature would see the state of this facility and be happy.
“In fact during that inauguration Mr president drew my attention the system was very poor, we have gone round and you and I know that it cannot be accepted, no way we can accept this as an international conference center because there is not standard compared.
“We can’t endure this embarrassment anymore, we are sorry to announce that every booking meant to be used here would be council as we start immediate rehabilitation of this center to maintain our international standard.
“So we have contacted the original contractors that built this place which is Julius Berger to come back, because if we had bought a new contractor it will take us time but since they have the designs and the drawings so that they can come here.
“We believe that in the next 7-8 months we would be able to do something that people will appreciate, that means FCTA will take over the rehabilitation with Julius Berger and Abuja investment company but it will be a different system now”.