Before now, ‘one chance’ menace has been a problem in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, the recent commitment by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to provide safe environment for commuters to avoid horrible incidents has been commended by President Bola Tinubu and residents. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports.
‘One chance’ menace has been one issue that has been upsetting residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Several people have lost their lives and property due to its upsurge. Many don’t feel safe boarding public and private vehicles along the road to avoid horrible incidents.
In May 2024, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike awarded the contract for the construction of three modern bus terminals in Mabushi, Kugbo and Central Area.
Wike conceptualised building bus terminals in Abuja to address the lack of organised public transportation facilities and curb the prevalence of “one-chance” robberies and other criminal activities linked to public transportation.
He recognised the need for designated areas for commuters to safely board buses and taxis, which would also create job opportunities.
The construction of the bus terminals in Mabushi and Kugbo began in July 2024, while that of the Central Area started in September 2024.
Fitted with quality facilities, the bus terminals will operate for 24 hours and offer amenities such as food courts, restrooms and entertainment facilities to make commuting more comfortable and cinema halls.
As for security, the terminals are designed to be secure environments, with features such as Close Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance to protect commuters.
Designed to welcome about 10,000 passengers daily, the Mabushi and Kugbo bus terminals can also house 120 buses and taxis each daily, for both intercity and intra-city travels.
A cross section of Abuja residents and visitors have applauded the initiative, while for those that worked at the construction site, jobs were created.
Mr. Steve Chukwudi, a business man who lives in Kuje advised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Wike to ensure that the transport facilities are put in proper use with effective monitoring.
Chukwudi hoped that the development will further curb the issue of one chance menace in the country’s capital.
Mrs. Ayomide Oluwadamisi, who sells food, said the construction site afforded her the opportunity to make money from the workers on site.
Ibrahim Sani appreciated the minister for mandating the contractor to employ residents, adding that his means of income significantly improved.
A cleaner at the Kugbo terminal, Susan Oma expressed happiness that she worked at the terminal. She expressed optimism for a brighter future as a worker in the facility.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Project Limited, Biodun Otunola, who spoke with Abuja Review said the terminals were designed to process more than 10,000 passengers each daily.
He said the terminals can accommodate 120 buses and taxis daily, for both intercity and intra-city travels. He, however, said that the terminal under construction in the Central Business District (CBD) was different, adding that it was essentially designed for intra-city operations.
Otunola said: “We can take over 120 buses here and we have designed this place in such a way that it can handle up to 10,000 passengers every day. It’s the same thing with the one in Mabushi. They are of the same concept, but the one at CBD, which is the third one, is a bit different.
“The one at CBD is essentially for the city operation within Abuja, while Mabushi and Kugbo are designed to run intra-city and inter-city operations.”
He further explained that each of the three terminals would employ at least 100 people.
“People would be in the security department, some in the ticketing department and others in facility management, control room, electrical department, mechanical department, maintenance department and bus control. It is huge. It’s like running a mini-airport.
“We will need one bus terminal in Gwagwalada, one in Kuje, in Gwarinpa and Lugbe, including the city centre in places such as Area 1, Area 3 in Garki, Wuse and other strategic locations,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and the FCT Minister Wike for giving Planet Project, a local contractor, the opportunity to showcase its capacity to execute world-standard bus terminals for the residents of the territory.
“I feel very happy that the government is beginning to trust its own people to do the right thing and to execute this kind of project. The company engaged 3,000 workers, comprising both skilled, unskilled artisans and security. Part of the conditions in the contract required the company to employ residents in the execution of the project as part of the FCT Administration’s strategy for job creation.
“FCT residents have enjoyed enormously from this project. We have employed a whole lot of them. You know it’s a construction site and certain workers will be needed at certain stages of the construction. It is difficult to give you an exact number but more than 3,000 residents have been engaged and more will be employed as the work progresses.
“The terminal will operate 24 hours a day, providing commuters with a safe and comfortable space to wait for their buses. There will be amenities such as food courts, restrooms, and entertainment facilities. I wonder how, since the creation of Abuja, and a city, a capital city of a country, we cannot have an organized transport system. Now, we are going to build another one in Bwari and Gwagwalada, so that if you are coming to the city, you know that you are safe. If you lose any of your items, you know the vehicle you boarded. That is the way it is the world over,” he said.
During the inauguration, Wike had said: “Mr. President, the government is not a big business person. This will not be run by the transport secretariat. It will be managed by private individuals who have the idea to run this kind of business. And they pay us revenue. So, as the Mandate Secretary of Transportation, you have no business here. All this grammar the Mandate Secretary of Transportation has said, please, your job ends after this inauguration. You have finished your job. It will now be run by private people; so that we can talk of how it will be sustained. “This is so because if you allow the government, civil servants, politicians to do this, in two weeks’ time, it will die.”
During the inauguration of Mabushi and Kugbo by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on June 17 and 26 respectively, the FCT Minister reiterated that the essence of the project was to enhance security by reducing the number of unauthorized vehicles, thereby reducing congestion on the roads.
During the inauguration of the Mabushi bus terminal on July 17, President Tinubu commended Wike’s commitment to providing first-class infrastructure for Abuja, evident in the quality and speed of project delivery.
He also opined that beyond the immediate benefits of organised transport and heightened security; the project will also serve as a powerful engine for economic empowerment.
President Tinubu said: “We are taking decisive steps to bring order, accountability and safety to public transportation. As we inaugurate the Mabushi Bus Terminal, we are not just opening a building; we are opening a new chapter for public transportation in Abuja. We are reaffirming our promise to provide a city where citizens can live, work, and commute with dignity, safety, and efficiency. This is a clear demonstration that our Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely a slogan, but a lived experience for our people.
“I urge all residents and transporters to make full use of this facility, to cooperate with the authorities, and to embrace this new era of organized and secure public transit. Why my administration has prioritised high-impact transportation infrastructure, among which is this bus and taxi terminal, is the undeniable fact that no country has recorded noticeable progress without modernisation and expansion of its critical public mobility and public utilities.
“As encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of my administration, my solemn promise to rebuild and revitalise our country’s infrastructure, enhance the lives of Nigerians, create an environment where security and efficiency become the order of the day, are being fulfilled, one significant step at a time. You will all agree with me that the Mabushi and now Kugbo International Bus Terminals meet global standards and global principles of sustainable urban development in the area of transportation and automatically erase these ugly experiences of chaotic public transportation in our capital city, previously fraught with challenges.
“The terminals align with development goals of transit-oriented cities with smart mobility, compact living spaces, parking management, winning support of stakeholders and citizens, and ultimately transforming lives. We heard your concerns. We understood your fears. And we acted. With your compliance, you will no longer suffer from ‘one chance’ by the roadside.”
To further ensure that Abuja is safe, Wike has set up a task force to go after ‘one chance’ syndicates and beggars.
The initiative, named Operation Sweep Abuja was ordered by Wike, in line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other existing regulations.
The minister had, in October 2024, asked roadside beggars to vacate the streets within five days or face arrest.
He had, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka said the operation would be carried out by a Joint Task Force comprising security agencies and relevant FCTA departments and agencies.
He said: “In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other relevant laws, Wike has directed the immediate evacuation of miscreants, street beggars, traders, scavengers and other criminal elements from the FCT.”
The administration said the move is part of ongoing efforts to restore order, ensure public safety and maintain the aesthetic integrity of Nigeria’s capital city.
“Our country’s capital should be a secure symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements,” he said.
Olayinka explained that people arrested during the operation would be profiled and subsequently handed over to their respective state governments.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to the safety of residents, and urged collective responsibility in making Abuja safer.
“Security of lives and properties of residents of the FCT is of paramount importance to the government. We must all join hands to achieve a safer Abuja,” he added.
The FCTA identified other targets of the crackdown to include “one chance” syndicates criminal gangs who pose as public transporters to rob unsuspecting commuters, along with illegal street traders and loiterers.
This move comes amid increasing concerns over rising petty crimes and the proliferation of informal activities across major parts of the capital, particularly in areas such as Wuse, Garki, Nyanya and Kubwa.
While the government insisted the action is necessary to safeguard the city, human rights advocates have raised concerns about the approach and its implications for vulnerable populations, including the homeless and unemployed.
Though the bus terminals are not yet operational, many residents have called on the administration to hasten plans and put them in use.
