FEC approves N142b for construction of bus terminals in six zones

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given approval for the construction of modern bus terminals in each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones at a total cost of N142,028,576,008.17.

Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, made this known after the FEC meeting, adding that the contract has been awarded to Messrs Planet Project Limited.

The terminals, the minister said, will be sited in Abeokuta (South-West), Gombe (North-East), Kano (North-West), Lokoja (North-Central), Onitsha (South-East), and Ewu in Edo State (South-South).

Senator Alkali said the project was the Federal Government’s first direct intervention in road transport infrastructure beyond road construction, saying that the locations were selected for their economic viability.

He stated that the absence of purpose-built bus terminals to serve millions of Nigerian commuters had contributed to increased crime, road traffic accidents, and the proliferation of arms and ammunition along the country’s highways.

“In spite of the significance of road transportation in Nigeria, there are no bus terminals that address the needs of millions of commuters. This has resulted in increased crime, road traffic accidents, and the spread of arms on our highways,” Alkali said.

He noted that the initiative, conceived by the Ministry of Transportation, aims to improve road safety, enhance passenger comfort, and stimulate economic activity.

He further stated that the proposal was brought before President Bola Tinubu and the council for approval after a thorough assessment of its potential impact on national transportation and security.