The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has launched a scathing critique of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) N39 billion renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC), labeling it a “shameful betrayal of public trust” while primary schools remain closed due to ongoing strikes.
In a hard-hitting statement, CUPP National Publicity Secretary Chief Peter Ameh contrasted the massive renovation expenditure with multiple neglected crises plaguing the FCT, including three-month-long school closures, paralyzed area council secretariats, and non-functional Primary Healthcare Centers that have left communities without essential services.
“These are the real emergencies demanding urgent attention, yet the administration prioritizes vanity projects over the welfare of Nigerians,” Ameh stated, highlighting the stark disparity between the current N39 billion renovation cost and the original N240 million used to construct the ICC under Babangida’s administration.
The coalition’s condemnation grew sharper as Ameh declared, “This is not leadership,” while demanding “immediate investigation into the FCTA’s expenditure on the ICC renovation and a reorientation of priorities toward education, healthcare and economic empowerment.”
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike defended the project’s necessity for international diplomacy, explaining that President Tinubu ordered the renovation after witnessing the facility’s deteriorated state during a 2023 visit.
However, an anonymous FCTA official acknowledged the education crisis while maintaining budget constraints, stating: “How can you use money approved by the presidency for such a special project to pay area council workers? These are two different things. However, I agree with you, we must act collectively to end the strike and bring the pupils back to their classrooms.”
The controversy has intensified debates about spending priorities in the capital territory, with opposition parties leveraging the issue to challenge the administration’s fiscal decisions amid deteriorating public services.
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