By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
A fierce rainstorm swept through the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, damaging the newly constructed Kugbo Bus Terminal and plunging the busy Maraba–Nyanya corridor into hours of paralyzing traffic gridlock.
The downpour, accompanied by violent winds, ripped off large sections of the terminal’s roofing, sending metal sheets and debris scattering across the carriageway. The resulting obstruction reduced the major commuter route to a near standstill, forcing many travelers to abandon their vehicles and trek long distances on foot.
The Kugbo terminal, built under the supervision of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is one of several modern transport hubs recently completed by the FCT Administration to ease congestion and improve mass transit in the capital. It is located along the Maraba–Nyanya road, a notoriously congested artery serving hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
Despite the scale of the project, the terminal has yet to begin full commercial operations.
In May 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved N51 billion for the construction of three major bus terminals in the FCT—Kugbo, Mabushi, and the Central Business District—under the Renewed Hope Agenda. While the specific cost of the Kugbo terminal has not been separately itemized, it forms part of the N51 billion contract awarded to Planet Projects Nigeria Limited.
As of Tuesday evening, no official statement had been issued by the FCT Administration or the contractor regarding repairs or the extent of the structural damage. Motorists and residents along the axis have called for urgent debris clearance and a reassessment of the terminal’s construction quality, particularly its ability to withstand extreme weather.
Traffic had reportedly begun to ease by nightfall, but the incident has raised fresh concerns about the durability of newly commissioned public infrastructure in the nation’s capital.
