The call for urgent action on the rehabilitation of the IBB International Golf and Country Club has once again taken center stage, as Monica Dongban-Mensem urged Nyesom Wike to ensure the timely completion of the ongoing renovation works at the prestigious Abuja facility.Speaking during the official flag-off of the course’s rehabilitation, Dongban-Mensem, who chairs the club’s Board of Trustees and also serves as President of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, emphasized that the restoration project must be executed diligently and concluded without unnecessary delay.Her appeal comes at a pivotal moment for a club that has been both a symbol of excellence and a site of prolonged governance crisis.A National Monument in Need of Renewal
Established in 1991 in Abuja’s Maitama district, the IBB Golf Club was designed as a world-class recreational and tourism hub. Over the years, it has grown into one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most recognized golf destinations.Dongban-Mensem described the facility as a “national monument” that once positioned Nigeria as a preferred destination for golf tourism across the continent. However, after more than three decades of intensive use, the course and clubhouse reportedly deteriorated without undergoing any comprehensive overhaul of the scale currently being undertaken.
The club, which now boasts over 5,000 members, has long exceeded the capacity originally envisioned at inception. The result: overstretched facilities, aging infrastructure, and mounting maintenance challenges.From Crisis to OpportunityThe club’s recent closure was triggered by internal disputes over governance and constitutional reforms, escalating into legal battles and government intervention.In response to the crisis, Minister Wike reconstituted the Board of Trustees and later appointed an Interim Management Committee to stabilize operation. He also reaffirmed that the club remains government property and cannot be privatized.
While the shutdown disrupted sporting and social activities, it inadvertently created an opening for structural reforms and long-overdue renovations. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) subsequently approved emergency rehabilitation works, beginning with the clubhouse.The rehabilitation project has been entrusted to Julius Berger, the original builders of the facility, a move widely interpreted as a commitment to restoring the club to international standards.
The Urgency of Timely CompletionAt the flag-off ceremony, Dongban-Mensem acknowledged the minister’s commitment but respectfully urged him to see the project through to successful and prompt completion.
Her concern reflects more than administrative efficiency. It touches on broader implications: Economic value: The club contributes to sports tourism and Abuja’s hospitality ecosystem.Youth development: Upgraded facilities are expected to provide improved training grounds for emerging golfers, particularly ahead of global competitions such as the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Environmental preservation: The course is known for its biodiversity home to birds and wildlife,making its maintenance both a sporting and ecological responsibility.In an earlier appeal, Dongban-Mensem described the club’s condition as critical, emphasizing that delay could lead to deeper deterioration.
Wike’s Position: Restoration and Reform Minister Wike has consistently maintained that the federal government will protect its investment and prevent any attempt to appropriate the facility for private interests.He has pledged phased renovation of the clubhouse and other sections of the course, stressing that the goal is not merely cosmetic repair but a structural upgrade capable of restoring the club’s prestige.For many stakeholders, this moment represents a turning point: a blend of reform, infrastructural renewal, and governance reset.
A Symbol Beyond Sport: The IBB Golf Club is more than a sporting venue. It has historically served as a meeting ground for policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and social elites, a place where conversations shaping national direction often occur informally over fairways and club dinners.Dongban-Mensem’s charge, therefore, is not simply about bricks and turf. It is about safeguarding a national symbol, preserving Nigeria’s international image, and ensuring that institutional challenges do not erode a legacy built over decades.For members who have long awaited reopening, for staff whose livelihoods depend on the club, and for young golfers dreaming of international stages, the timely renovation of the IBB Golf Club represents hope hope that excellence, once dimmed, can be restored.As Abuja watches the rehabilitation unfold, the message from the Board of Trustees is clear: the moment demands urgency, unity, and execution.