..... At Flag- Off Ceremony for new INEC HQPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the electoral integrity of the country.
The President stated this on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 when he officially flagged off the design and construction of a new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters annex in Abuja.
In his address at the ceremony, President Tinubu declared that the new edifice would serve as a “hub for innovation, planning, training, and transparency in electoral administration”.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy is continuously evolving, demanding corresponding growth in the institutions responsible for its protection and pledged his administration’s full support to ensure INEC is adequately equipped with both infrastructure and the necessary legal frameworks, policies, and resources to execute its constitutional mandate with courage and excellence.
President Tinubu lauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, for initiating the project, describing it as “another important step towards the protection of our democracy in this country”.
He commended the Minister’s vision, courage, and dedication to national progress and extended appreciation to the INEC staff for their unwavering commitment, acknowledging their efforts in laying a stronger foundation for democratic resilience in Nigeria.
President Tinubu also reminded Nigerians that democracy is not a destination but a journey, calling for collective efforts to strengthen institutions, safeguard freedoms, and protect the nation’s future.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike for facilitating the project.
Professor Yakubu highlighted the Commission’s long-standing challenge of inadequate office accommodation, noting that the current national headquarters was severely congested, leading to strained facilities and the need to rent additional buildings. He explained that the new annex, conceptualized by INEC’s technical department, will complement the main building, significantly easing operational constraints.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on his part, confirmed that the Federal Executive Council approved the project in March 2025, with supervision handled by the FCT Administration through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
He reassured the President that the project would be completed within his first tenure, leveraging the administration’s support to ensure the contractor delivers a quality structure that justifies the investment. He also clarified the FCDA’s historical role in constructing public buildings, including the original INEC headquarters.
“I want to assure you that this structure will be given all the time it requires to see that during your first tenure, this project is completed. With the kind of support you’ve given to us, we will make sure that the contractor delivers to justify the money that we are paying”, Barr. Wike stressed.
In his technical overview of the project, the Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda said, the project consists of a five-storey building on a 1.5-hectare land which will also house a media centre, a library, museum, various meeting rooms, a security control room, energy room, office accommodation for management staff and a 1000 capacity auditorium among other amenities.
This is according to a statement signed by Rabi Musa Mark, an Assistant Director (Press) in the Ministry dated June 17, 2025.