Wike Approves Renovation of IBB Golf Clubhouse

*Insists the golf course is government  property

Olawale Ajimotokan  in Abuja

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has approved the renovation of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, beginning with the clubhouse.

He gave the nod yesterday during a visit to the club’s Board of Trustees headed  by the President Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.

The approval followed a request by Justice Dongban-Mensem that the club had become worn out due to excessive use and little maintenance since it was opened to play in 1991.

Wike said he would invite Julius Berger to handle the renovation of the club house as the construction firm was the same company that built the golf course.

Wike also warned members of the club using under cover means to take over the golf club to steer clear, insisting it remains the property of government.

 “You know I’m not a golfer. This is my first time of coming here and I have had some interest. My interest is, this is the property of government and I’m very proud for you to manage. When I came here, I was quite impressed. Like you said, there are so many countries made by tourism.

“And if you have people like today, they having ECOWAS  meeting taking place. Now, there may be golfers, they want to come and play golf. It’s very key. And that’s why we will not allow anybody to take what belongs to us. We will not allow that. Government is not a good manager,” Wike said.

The minister stated that the restoration of the golf course was what anybody who has good taste and meant well for the country must encourage, adding it was better to renovate the place, open it up and not allow it degenerate.

“So that when people come in, they have where they can laugh at the club and have their drinks and the rest of the thing. I would take it as part of the emergency that we must do,” he said.

Earlier, Dongban-Mensem had appealed for the upgrading of the golf course in the same way government renovated the International Conference Centre.

“We are confident that with the massive infrastructural development under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and under your dynamic leadership of the FCT, our dear IBB International Club will similarly be a beneficiary of your foresightedness and determination to turn our nation around,” She said.

The minister was presented with a special golf memorabilia by a member of the BOT, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who described Wike as the most misunderstood Nigerian and a man who likes to deliver.

Runsewe also promised to deliver a special golf club to Wike this week so that the minister can start playing at home.