FEC Approval Needed Before FCT Terminals Begin Operations-Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday in Abuja said the newly built bus and taxi terminals in the city will begin operations once the Federal Executive Council approves the Public Private Partnership plan for their management. He spoke after inspecting ongoing road projects across the capital.

Wike explained that the FCT Administration constructed three major terminals in Kugbo, Mabushi and the Central Business District at a total cost of N51 billion. The projects started in 2024. The Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were completed and inaugurated in June 2025 during activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.

The terminal in the Central Business District is nearing completion.
Despite their inauguration, the Kugbo and Mabushi facilities have not yet started operations.

The minister said the delay is due to the requirement for Federal Executive Council approval before private operators can take over management under the PPP arrangement. He noted that the plan is to allow competent private firms to run the terminals instead of the Transport Secretariat.

According to him, the procurement process has already passed through the Bureau of Public Procurement, but final approval must come from the Federal Executive Council because the contract exceeds ministerial authority.

He expressed confidence that the matter would be presented at the next council meeting and approved, after which operations would begin.

Wike also recalled that more terminals are planned for Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje as part of efforts to improve transport services in the territory. He said the terminals are meant to provide organised parking spaces for buses and taxis, reduce roadside parking and ease traffic congestion in the city.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Project Limited, Biodun Otunola, had earlier explained that the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were designed to handle over 10,000 passengers daily.

Each facility can accommodate about 120 buses and taxis for both intercity and intra-city travel. He added that the Central Business District terminal is mainly for movement within the city.

Otunola said each terminal is expected to create at least 100 jobs across various units such as security, ticketing, facility management, maintenance, electrical and mechanical services, and control operations. He described the scale of operations as comparable to managing a small airport.

He further stated that to cover key areas of the FCT effectively, about 12 bus and taxi terminals would eventually be required. Proposed locations include Gwagwalada, Kuje, Gwarinpa, Lugbe, Area 1, Area 3 in Garki, Wuse and other busy parts of the capital.