Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike says the three bus and taxi terminals constructed by the FCT Administration (FCTA) will begin operation once approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Mr Wike gave the assurance after he inspected some ongoing road projects in Abuja on Thursday.

The FCTA, in 2024, began the construction of three bus terminals, one each in Kugbo, Mabushi, and the Central Business District (CBD), at N51 billion.

The Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were completed and inaugurated in June 2025 to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, while the CBD terminal is at the completion stage.

However, the completed terminals have remained unoperational since inauguration in June 2025.

The minister explained that the terminals have not taken off because the qualified operators must be approved by the FEC, adding that the contract was beyond ministerial approval.

He said the procurement process had successfully passed through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

“After building the terminals, we said we are not going to allow the transport secretariat to run it. It will be handled by private individuals who have the competence.

“It’s not as easy as we thought. It requires FEC’s approval, but I am confident that at the next FEC, the contracts will be presented for approval.

“So, we believe in the next FEC meeting it will be approved, and once that is done, then. We will hit the road,” he said.

Mr Wike had disclosed during the inauguration of the completed terminals that additional terminals would be constructed in Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje.

He added that the FCTA was also addressing the issue of indiscriminate parking on the roads.

According to him, the terminal will provide a safe and organised space for vehicles to park, thereby reducing congestion on the roads.

Also, Biodun Otunola, managing director and chief executive officer of Planet Project Ltd, had explained that the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were designed to process more than 10,000 passengers each day.

Mr Otunola added that the terminals were also designed to accommodate 120 buses and taxis each daily for both intercity and intracity travel.

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

Mr Otunola said that each of the three terminals would employ at least 100 persons.

He explained that people would be in the security department, some in the ticketing department, and others in facility management, the control room, the electrical department, the mechanical department, the maintenance department, and bus control.

Mr Otunola, however, said that based on the needs assessment, the FCT would need at least 12 bus and taxi terminals to cover significant parts of the territory.

“We will need one in Gwagwalada, one in Kuje, in Gwarinpa, and in Lugbe, including the city centre in places like Area 1, Area 3 in Garki, Wuse, and other strategic locations,” he said. 

(NAN)