By Chioma kate Unini
A wave of discontent is sweeping across Nigeria following the decision by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to rename the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The move has drawn widespread condemnation as excessive, self-serving, and an emblem of political sycophancy.
Originally constructed in 1991 under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida for just ₦240 million, the ICC has long stood as a national monument and iconic venue for global summits and state functions. Now, after a ₦39 billion renovation, the centre has been rechristened the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre despite the fact that President Tinubu neither initiated nor built it, but merely approved its refurbishment.
Unlike Babangida, who never named the original edifice after himself, Tinubu’s administration, just two years into office, has overseen a wave of public assets renamed in his honour. Many Nigerians say this signals not national pride, but unchecked self-promotion and ego-driven politics.
Civil society groups and political analysts have slammed the growing trend as “a troubling display of premature self-immortalisation,” with critics describing it as unethical, historically inappropriate, and deeply sycophantic.
“President Tinubu should wait until after his tenure, when his legacy can be fairly assessed. Naming public infrastructure after oneself while still in office is not only self-congratulatory, it invites reversal by future administrations,” a public affairs analyst told ThisDay.
There is no legal or moral guarantee that these names will survive future governments. A successor, driven by different values or public sentiment, could very well reverse them, restoring historically relevant titles or choosing names reflective of broader national ideals.
Eight Key Projects Already Renamed After Tinubu:
Additionally, Dangote Industries named a major road leading to its mega refinery after President Tinubu.
Public reaction has been largely critical. Nigerians across social media and civil discourse circles have labelled the trend a new height of sycophancy, especially in the face of worsening inflation, widespread poverty, and insecurity.
“This isn’t legacy building, it’s ego construction. And taxpayers are footing the bill,” said the Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), which has consistently condemned the practice as “executive narcissism” and a “state-sponsored hijack of national memory.”
As Nigeria stands at a fragile socio-economic juncture, critics argue that focus must return to people-centred governance, not the politics of nameplates. Ultimately, history will not remember what buildings were named after a leader, only whether their leadership delivered prosperity, security, and justice.
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