Abuja residents have called on the FCT administration to build shelters at recognised bus stops as the rainy season intensifies.

The residents told journalists that it was unfortunate that most bus stops in the nation’s capital lacked shelters.

According to them, the matter has been worsened by the rainy season which leaves them drenched when the rain catches them in transit.

A resident, Kameela Abdulhadi, said the lack of bus terminals made her miss a job interview.

She said she could not proceed to the interview venue because she was drenched upon alighting from a commercial vehicle in the middle of a rain.

“I left home well prepared for the interview, but it started raining on my way, and I did not get a place to shelter when I alighted from the cab. On getting to the terminal at Aso Drive, there was no shelter as the rain came alongside a windstorm,” she said.

Most houses in Abuja are high-rise and do not have balconies to serve as emergency shelters for stranded residents.

Ms Abdulhadi said her experience also left her credentials half soaked.

A resident of Dutse Alhaji, Vivian John, said most of the time she had her umbrella in her bag to prevent being wet by the rain.

According to her, it is important to have shelters at the bus stops, but added that in some instances, having an umbrella cannot save the situation.

She said, “Sometimes the rain comes with a windstorm that can even destroy the umbrella or force it to fly away from my hand. In a situation like that, it is best to look for something somewhere and stay until the rain reduces or stops. That is why we want the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to construct shields where they are needed so that we can stay dry when it rains.’’

Similarly, a corps member, Samuel Adeshina, said it was a nasty experience for him on his way to Maitama to submit his re-posting letter.

He said there was heavy rain, and since he was on a public bus, he had no option than to alight from the vehicle.

He said he was saved by a pedestrian bridge, under which he took shelter until the rain stopped.

“I don’t want to talk about how I felt that day. I was so cold. I had to go back home. I felt sick because of that. I am a sickle cell carrier, so my body quickly reacts to situations like that,” he said.

(NAN)