The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents that the ongoing construction of three new bus terminals in Abuja will significantly reduce the menace of “one chance” criminal operations and sanitize the city’s transportation system.
Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the bus terminal projects in Mabushi and Kugbo Districts, as well as the access road to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in Dakibiyu, which is also under construction.
The FCT Administration, under Wike’s leadership, awarded contracts in 2024 for the development of modern bus and taxi terminals in Mabushi, Central Area, and Kugbo projects that he described as “critical transportation infrastructure.”
According to Wike, the terminals are designed to streamline public transportation in the capital city, providing safe and organized boarding points for commuters while eliminating unregulated roadside pickups that have enabled criminal activities, including the notorious “one chance” operations.
“That, of course, will limit the incidence of ‘one chance’criminals who pose as drivers to snatch passengers of their valuables,” Wike said. “So that’s the sense of building these terminals, and also to clean up the city so we don’t have buses all over the road, turning every roadside into a motor park.”
The minister praised the progress made so far and commended the contractors for their dedication and quality of work. “We’re quite impressed with what we have seen. I commend the contractors for a job well done. We will try as much as we can to make sure that the projects are delivered within the agreed timeline,” he said.
Speaking specifically about the Mabushi terminal, Wike acknowledged visible improvements following his earlier criticisms about the finishing. “There is an improvement, and I commend the contractor. When we went there the last time, I shouted at them that I’m not happy with the finishing. From what I have seen now, there are a lot of improvements.”
On the broader plan to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office, Wike revealed that several completed infrastructure projects, including the bus terminals and roads, are being lined up for commissioning. However, he clarified that the events would not all take place on May 29, which marks the anniversary.
“The President can give us a date as part of the anniversary. It does not mean that everything must be done on May 29,” he said. “We have specific dates, pending the approval and convenience of Mr. President. You can’t commission the whole project on May 29. I have said that it will take us two weeks to commission the completed projects.”
Commenting on the road infrastructure in Dakibiyu, Wike expressed confidence that the ongoing project will be among those ready for commissioning during the celebration period.
He also reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to prudent resource management, noting that infrastructure projects are awarded strictly based on available funding. “We don’t just go and award contracts for the sake of awarding contracts. We award contracts based on the resources we have, and with the little taxes we are collecting. And with the support that Mr. President has given, we are able to prioritize our expenditure.”
Wike emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration is committed to providing first-class infrastructure across the FCT to ensure a higher quality of life for residents.