Abuja: A rainstorm on Tuesday afternoon caused significant damage to parts of the Kugbo Bus/Taxi Terminal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which was scheduled to commence operations soon. The heavy rain, which began around 3:30 p.m., tore off the terminal’s roof and scattered the debris along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, leading to heavy traffic congestion on both sides of the dual carriageway. Scavengers were observed collecting valuable parts of the roof and other items deposited on the road.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, confirmed the incident, noting that the rainstorm also caused minor damage to the Nyanya pedestrian bridge and some buildings in the area. Olayinka stated in a statement that preliminary reports indicated no injuries or vehicle damage.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the deployment of security personnel to the scene to prevent disorder and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. He assured that actions would be taken immediately to address the damages caused by the rainstorm.
The Kugbo Bus/Taxi Terminal is one of three newly constructed terminals inaugurated in June 2025. Minister Wike had inaugurated the construction of the bus and taxi terminals in Mabushi, Central Business District (CBD), and Kugbo in July 2024 to improve 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 handle more than 10,000 passengers daily. Otunola, the contractor, added that the terminals were also designed to accommodate 120 buses and taxis each day for both intercity and intra-city travel. However, he mentioned that the terminal in the CBD was primarily intended for intra-city operations. Each of the three terminals would employ at least 100 people.
On the operations of the terminals, Minister Wike had indicated on March 27 that the completed terminals would soon begin operations following the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He explained that President Bola Tinubu and the FEC had approved the management of the bus terminals in Mabushi and Kugbo through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The bus terminals, although completed and inaugurated in 2025, could not commence operations earlier as their management required approval beyond the ministerial level.