Wike Says Abuja’s Mega Bus Terminals Need FEC’s Final Green Light to Launch Private Management

Abuja’s ambitious plan to modernize its transport system is currently parked in the “waiting room” of the Federal Executive Council. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike revealed on Thursday that while the city’s mega bus terminals are structurally ready, they cannot “hit the road” until the nation’s highest cabinet body approves their private management contracts.

Speaking during an inspection tour that covered Wuse, Mabushi, and the Central Business Area, Wike explained that the government has decided against allowing the FCT Transport Secretariat to manage the new hubs. To ensure a “State of Harmony” and avoid the rot typical of state-run enterprises, the terminals will be handed over to private operators a move that requires FEC approval due to the high value of the contracts.

“It is not as easy as we thought,” Wike admitted to reporters. “We don’t want these projects to die. If you want a project to fail, give it to the Transport Secretariat to run. We are bringing in competent private individuals, and since the cost is beyond my ministerial limit, we must wait for the FEC’s nod, which I expect at the next meeting.”

The Mabushi and Kugbo terminals were inaugurated with great fanfare in June 2025 but have sat idle for eight months, frustrating commuters. Wike remains confident, however, that the wait is nearly over. Once operational, the terminals including the nearly finished CBD hub will function like mini-airports, featuring air-conditioned waiting areas, digital ticketing, and even cinemas.

The Minister also reiterated that the terminals are a primary weapon in the fight against “one-chance” robberies. By forcing all commercial drivers to operate from these designated hubs, the FCT Administration aims to eliminate the chaos of illegal motor parks and ensure every taxi and bus is identifiable and tracked.

With the procurement process already cleared by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the ball is now in the FEC’s court. For the thousands of Abuja residents currently boarding buses on dusty road shoulders, the hope is that the next cabinet meeting will finally provide the “spark” needed to start the engines.