Rainstorm destroys newly constructed bus/taxi terminal in Abuja

By Philip Yatai

A yet-to+be inaugurated for use Bus/Taxi Terminal in the Kugbo area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was destroyed by rainfall on Tuesday.

The heavy rain, which began around 3:30 p.m., blew away the terminal’s roof and deposited the debris on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.

The development caused heavy traffic on both sides of the dual carriageway, while scavengers were seen carting away valuable parts of the roof and other valuables deposited on the road.

Confirming the incident, Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, said that the rainstorm also caused minor damage to the Nyanya pedestrian bridge and some buildings in the area.

Olayinka said in a statement that preliminary reports showed no one was injured, and no vehicle was damaged.

He said that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had directed deployment of security men to the scene to prevent breakdown of law and order and to ensure free flow of traffic.

He assured that immediate action would be taken towards fixing the damages caused by the rainstorm.

The Kugbo bus/taxi terminal is one of the three newly built terminals inaugurated in June 2025.

Wike inaugurated the construction of bus and taxi terminals in Mabushi, Central Business District (CBD), and Kugbo in July 2024, to enhance commuter safety and convenience.

Mr Biodun Otunola, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Project Ltd., explained that the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were designed to process more than 10,000 passengers each day.

Otunola, the contractor, added that the terminals were also designed to accommodate 120 buses and taxis each daily for both intercity and intra-city travel.

He, however, said that the terminal in the CBD was different, adding that it was essentially designed for intra-city operations.

The contractor said that each of the three terminals would employ at least 100 persons.

On the operations of the terminals, Wike, had on March 27 said that the completed terminals would begin operations soon following approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Minister explained that President Bola Tinubu and FEC had approved the management of the bus terminals in Mabushi and Kugbo, based on a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He said that the bus terminals, though completed and inaugurated in 2025, could not begin operations because their management was above ministerial approval.

(NAN)