By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
A heavy rainstorm on Tuesday wreaked havoc on the yet-to-be- used Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The downpour, which began at about 3:30 p.m., reportedly ripped the terminal’s roof and collapsed a large portion of the structure, with debris spilling onto the expressway and obstructing vehicular movement.
The incident caused heavy traffic congestion on the dual carriageway Abuja- Keffi, as commuters struggled to navigate the affected stretch.
Eyewitnesses also reported that some individuals were seen scavenging parts of the damaged roof and other materials scattered on the road.
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who confirmed the incident said the rainstorm also caused minor damage to the Nyanya pedestrian bridge and nearby buildings.
Olayinka in a statement disclosed that preliminary reports indicated no casualties and no damage to vehicles, but scavengers were seen roaming
He added that the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, had directed the immediate deployment of security personnel to the scene to maintain order and ensure the free flow of traffic.
Olayinka further assured that prompt action would be taken to repair the damaged structures.
The Kugbo Bus and Taxi Terminal is one of three modern transport terminals inaugurated in June 2025 as part of efforts to improve urban mobility in the FCT.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Projects Ltd., Biodun Otunola, the contractor handling the project, had earlier stated that both the Kugbo and Mabushi terminals were designed to process over 10,000 passengers daily.
According to him, the facilities were also built to accommodate about 120 buses and taxis per day for both intercity and intra-city operations.
It would be recalled that on March 27, the FCT Minister announced that the completed terminals would soon commence operations following approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Wike explained that although the terminals had been completed and inaugurated in 2025, their take-off was delayed due to the the approval of the appropeiate legislature.
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