Abuja bus terminals awaiting FEC approval to begin operations — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the newly constructed bus terminals across Abuja will commence full operations once the Federal Executive Council (FEC) grants approval for their management contracts.

Wike gave the assurance on Thursday during an extensive inspection tour of ongoing road projects within the capital city.

The FCT Administration commenced construction of the modern bus terminals in 2024, citing the need to streamline public transportation and improve urban mobility. The terminals are located in Kugbo, Mabushi, and the Central Business District (CBD).

While the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were completed and inaugurated in June 2025 as part of activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office, they have yet to become operational. The CBD terminal is nearing completion.

Explaining the delay, Wike said the management of the facilities would not be handled by the FCT Transport Secretariat but by private operators with proven competence, a decision that requires FEC approval.

“After building the terminals, we said we are not going to allow the Transport Secretariat to run them. They will be handled by private individuals who have the competence,” the minister stated.

“It’s not as easy as we thought. It requires FEC’s approval, but I am confident that at the next FEC meeting, the contracts will be presented for approval. Once that is done, we will hit the road.”

He added that the procurement process had already scaled through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), stressing that the contract approval lies beyond ministerial authority.

Crackdown on Vandalism

Wike also raised concerns over persistent vandalism of public infrastructure across the territory, revealing that new security measures are being integrated into ongoing projects.

He disclosed that street lighting projects have been contracted to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Geo-engineering Corporation, with built-in security mechanisms to prevent tampering and theft.

“One of the features is that they will include security measures so that they cannot be manipulated, removed, or vandalised,” he said.

According to the minister, CCECC has almost completed the airport road lighting project with advanced security features.

“Most of the jobs we have done are being vandalised by criminals. We will take steps to ensure that by the time the two companies finish, this will no longer happen. That is why we are concerned about security features.

“I mean, how many policemen would you have on the road to check for vandalism of street lights? By the time the projects are completed, we will be able to monitor the situation from a kind of control room. That is how we are trying to reduce vandalism,” Wike explained.

Road Projects, IGR Funding

On road infrastructure, the minister described the ongoing works as strategic investments aimed at boosting connectivity and improving the quality of life for Abuja residents.

“It is a marathon inspection today. We went to Wuse, linking to the Central Business Area, which was developed by Levant Construction Company. By the grace of God, as they have said, the project will be handed over by June,” he noted.

Wike emphasised that many of the projects, including road networks, bus terminals, and street lighting installations, are being funded through the FCT’s internally generated revenue (IGR), rather than allocations from the federation account.

According to him, the administration’s infrastructure drive is designed to stimulate economic activity while enhancing safety and urban order across the Federal Capital Territory.