Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that operations at the newly constructed bus and taxi terminals in Abuja will begin once the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approves the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for their management.
Wike gave the assurance on Thursday while inspecting ongoing road projects in the FCT, explaining that although two of the three terminals have been completed and inaugurated, they cannot commence operations without FEC approval for the selected private operators.
The FCT Administration began construction of the three terminals in 2024 at a total cost of N51 billion. The projects are located in Kugbo, Mabushi and the Central Business District (CBD). While the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were completed and inaugurated in June 2025 to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, the CBD terminal is nearing completion. Despite the inauguration, the completed facilities have remained non-operational.
According to the minister, the decision was taken to hand over the operation and management of the terminals to competent private firms rather than the FCT Transport Secretariat. He noted that the procurement process has passed through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and now requires final approval from FEC.
“It requires FEC’s approval, and that is beyond ministerial approval. I am confident that at the next FEC meeting, the contracts will be presented and approved. Once that is done, operations will commence,” Wike said.
The minister said the bus and taxi terminals are part of the FCTA’s broader plan to modernise transportation infrastructure in the territory and curb indiscriminate parking, which contributes to traffic congestion on major roads.
He also disclosed that additional terminals would be constructed in Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje to further expand the network.
Speaking earlier, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Project Ltd, Biodun Otunola, said the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals are designed to handle over 10,000 passengers daily and accommodate about 120 buses and taxis each for both inter-city and intra-city operations.
Otunola added that the CBD terminal is primarily designed for intra-city transport, noting that each of the three terminals is expected to create at least 100 jobs across security, ticketing, facility management, maintenance, and control room operations.
He said the scale of operations at the terminals is comparable to that of a mini airport and noted that the FCT would require at least 12 such terminals to adequately serve key areas of the territory, including Gwagwalada, Kuje, Gwarinpa, Lugbe, Garki, Wuse and other strategic locations.