PRESIDENT TINUBU UNVEILS KUGBO BUS TERMINAL, DECLARES ‘ONCE CHANCE’ OVER IN FCT
By: Wisdom Acka and Prudence Okonna
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned the newly constructed Kugbo Bus Terminal, declaring it as a step towards ending the long-standing ordeal of unregulated transport systems in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The President said that FCT residents will no longer suffer the ‘one chance’ menace while commissioning the Kugbo Terminal, Thursday, 26th June 2025.
President Tinubu who was represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, noted that the Administration has heard the concerns of Abuja residents.
He expressed confidence that with the provision of the terminal, security challenges such as that of one-chance would no longer be a problem.
“This administration heard your concerns, you will no longer suffer once chance,” President Tinubu declared.
He said no nation could make any reasonable progress without modern transportation, adding that his Administration aims to revamp Nigeria’s critical infrastructure and improve urban mobility.
In his words, “The decision of my administration to prioritize high-impact transportation infrastructure, among which is this bus and taxi terminal, is based on the undeniable fact that no nation around the world has been recorded to have made any noticeable progress without modernization and expansion of its critical public mobility and public utilities.
President Tinubu stressed that, along with upcoming terminal at the Eagle Square, Central Business District, the two inaugurated terminals in Kugbo and Mabushi would, “in no small measure, contribute to my government’s determination to turn around the fortunes of our people through improved connectivity, reduced travel time, and economic growth, thereby creating opportunities.”
The President also added that the terminals, which are meticulously planned transportation hubs, will add to the numerous jobs being created by the administration in different sectors, boost trade, ensure orderliness, safety, and comfort to commuters.
President Tinubu revealed that on assumption of office, he directed the FCT Minister to find a lasting solution to the ‘Once Chance’ menace and added that he is glad the Minister has addressed the situation by building an organised transportation system.
He therefore commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike and his team, expressing satisfaction with the presence of advanced security features, such as comprehensive CCTV surveillance, among others at the terminals.
“This solid structure is not for anyone else but for the residents. It is a product of good thinking under a forward-thinking leader,” he said.
The president urged residents to embrace the organised system that has been provided by the government as part of efforts to ensure their safety.
In his address, the FCT Minister, Barrister. Nyesom Wike expressed gratitude to the President for always supporting the FCT Administration.
He also appreciated the National Assembly for promptly approving the FCT budget, assuring the leadership of the National Assembly that the budget was being fully utilized.
“We must thank Mr. President for his commitment to Abuja. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have approved the funds,” Barr. Wike stated.
The Minister recalled that the project was flagged off by the Senate President in July 2024 and is now being commissioned after ten months.
He also revealed that the third Bus Terminal located in the Central Business District is still under construction but will be commissioned before the end of 2025.
Barr. Wike emphasised the terminal’s safety and efficiency, explaining that because of its organized nature, drivers and vehicles can be monitored.
He reiterated his stance that it would be privately managed under a revenue-generating model for sustainability.
“Here, you are sure of the vehicle and the driver. If you lose your items, they can be recovered. That’s what a proper system looks like,” he added, announcing plans for a similar facility in Gwagwalada and Bwari.
The Minister also seized the opportunity to call on residents to pay their taxes and ground rent owed to the FCT Administration, adding that it would help the FCTA provide more infrastructure for the people.
Head of Service of the FCTA, Hon. Grace Adayilo, thanked President Tinubu, the Minister, contractors, and key stakeholders for their collective effort in delivering a people-centric project.
“Your invaluable support and dedication to service delivery are commendable,” she said.
Managing Director of Planet Projects, Engr. Abiodun Otunola, whose company handled the construction, described the terminal as a 100% Nigerian-built infrastructure delivered ahead of schedule.
“This world-class terminal was completed in just 10 months. Everything here, from design to execution, is Made in Nigeria,” Otunola said.
FCT Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, who described the terminal as world-class, said it is both an intra-city and intercity terminal, which would serve Kugbo, Karu, Karshi, Nyanya, Mararaba, and surrounding towns, offering organised transportation for the thousands of daily commuters in and around the nation’s capital.
He revealed that the Kugbo Bus Terminal is sited on two hectares of land, which was previously a hilly terrain that required blasting through seven metres of rock to create a level foundation.
Dr. Elechi revealed that it features a one-storey building equipped with a 500-capacity departure lounge, three staircases, escalators, a family room for nursing mothers, a cinema, shops, and convenience rooms for both males and females, the physically challenged, as well as a praying space for Muslim faithfuls.
He added that the bus station has a 200-bus capacity, and will operate for 24 hours, with a 500kva transformer and a standby 500 KVA generator, as well as a 90,000 litres of water tank available and full air-conditioning.
