|By Adejumo Adekunle
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the three newly built Bus and Taxi Terminals in Abuja will commence operations immediately the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approves the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for their management.
Wike gave the assurance on Thursday after inspecting ongoing road projects across the capital, explaining that the delay in activating the terminals stems from regulatory requirements rather than construction setbacks.
The FCT Administration began building the terminals in 2024 at Kugbo, Mabushi and the Central Business District (CBD) at a total cost of N51 billion. The Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were completed and inaugurated in June 2025 to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, while the CBD terminal is nearing completion. Despite their inauguration, the completed facilities have remained dormant.
According to Wike, operations cannot begin until FEC approves the selected private operators, noting that the scope of the contract goes beyond ministerial authority. He disclosed that the procurement process has already cleared the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
After construction, the FCTA resolved not to hand over operations to the Transport Secretariat but to competent private operators, Wike said, adding that the approval process has taken longer than expected. He expressed confidence that the contracts would be presented at the next FEC meeting and approved.
The minister also reiterated plans to expand the terminal network, revealing that additional facilities would be built in Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje. He described the terminals as a major step in modernising Abuja’s transport infrastructure and curbing indiscriminate roadside parking.
Wike explained that the terminals would provide safe, organised parking and loading spaces for buses and taxis, a move aimed at easing traffic congestion across the city.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Project Ltd, Biodun Otunola, said the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were designed to handle over 10,000 passengers daily and accommodate about 120 buses and taxis each for both intercity and intra-city travel. He noted that the CBD terminal differs in design, as it is tailored strictly for intra-city operations.
On employment, Otunola said each terminal would create at least 100 jobs across security, ticketing, facility management, control rooms, electrical and mechanical units, maintenance and bus control.
He described the facilities as complex transport hubs comparable to “mini airports” and added that a needs assessment showed the FCT would require at least 12 bus and taxi terminals to adequately serve the territory. Proposed locations include Gwagwalada, Kuje, Gwarinpa, Lugbe, Area 1 and Area 3 in Garki, Wuse and other strategic parts of the city.
