Outrage Grows Over N19bn Adamawa Event Centre

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is facing renewed backlash as many residents question why Adamawa State is spending nearly N19 billion on an international conference centre in Yola while children across the state still study under trees, broken roofs and overcrowded classrooms.

The dispute stems from the government’s decision to push ahead with the construction of a massive events complex awarded to Lubell Nigeria Limited. The project includes a 1,000-seat hall, a 360-seat auditorium, seminar rooms, medical areas and retail spaces. Work is already ongoing on the site, even as many schools remain without basic learning facilities.

Critics say the project reflects the wrong priorities at a time when public education is in dire condition. In several communities, pupils sit on bare floors or gather under trees because classrooms have collapsed or have never been built. Teachers also complain of delayed promotions and years of neglect, creating deeper frustration among parents and education advocates.

The controversy has widened with questions about the project’s real value. Many residents argue that spending such a huge sum on a conference centre makes little sense in a state still marked as a high-risk zone by foreign governments. They point out that insecurity and poor travel ratings make investor traffic and large events almost impossible, raising concerns that the centre may become another expensive structure with little real use.

Insiders familiar with state spending patterns say projects of this size often raise suspicions about inflated contracts and political gains hidden behind development claims. They argue that governors across the country favour large construction ventures because they offer more room for financial dealings than investments in schools or health services, which directly affect the public but attract fewer opportunities for profit.

The backlash has also brought renewed attention to deeper social issues in Adamawa. Civil society groups insist that the state urgently needs classrooms, trained teachers, learning materials, and a long-term education plan, not luxury structures that do not address the struggles of ordinary families. They say the focus on concrete projects over human development leaves the next generation at a disadvantage.

Even as officials defend the project as a path to future investment and tourism, many residents remain unconvinced. The centre was officially launched on May 29, 2025, with a one-year completion target, but while construction continues, thousands of children still take lessons in open fields. Critics say this contrast tells the real story of the state’s priorities.