AREA GROUP WANTS FCT MINISTER TO REVERSE HIS DECISION TO SHUT DOWN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER 17-04-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Arewa New Agenda, ANA, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Prevail on the Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike to reverse his decision to shut down the Internal Conference Center, ICC and the termination of the contract on the management of the center by Integrated Facility Management Services.
The Deputy Chairman of the Group, Professor Kyuka Usman, while briefing Journalists on the implication of the decision on the investors who had booked the centre for their events said revoking the contract of the ICC requires recourse to laid down procedures if the FCT Minister wants to interfere with any contractual arrangement.
“At the time of Wike’s purported revocation of Integrated Facility Managers management contract of the ICC, a number of international organizations have booked the ICC for their events”
“These bookings are for the whole year ending December 2024. The threat of the Minister to close down the ICC has impacted negatively on these bookings which are third-party contracts with clients locally and internationally. The threat also hampers international business; drives away foreign investment and kills growth and business prospects at a time the country needs these the most”
Professor Kyuka Usman explained that the action of the minister is irregular, against fair hearing and the rule of law.
The group noted that the Arewa New Agenda who worked hard for the victory of President Bola Tinubu would continue to support and promote policies that would earn the administration more support.
“ANA is on record to have convened series of dialogue sessions to support key policies of the Tinubu’s Administration such as poverty reduction, peace and peaceful coexistence, removal of oil subsidy and benefits of the renewed hope agenda.”
“ANA has been engaged in the support and promotion of good policies and actions of the Tinubu Administration under the leadership of our convener, Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi who incidentally is the MD of Integrated Facility Management Services”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mr. Nyesom Wike, had on the 8th of April, ordered the closure of the ICC for renovations after he inspected the centre.
Mr. Wike who decried the deplorable state of the facilities, said the ICC would be closed to allow for the immediate rehabilitation of the Centre to bring it to international standard.
According to the Minister all the events scheduled to be held at the Centre have been cancelled.