FEATURE: FCT Minister Calls Kugbo Bus Terminal Damage “Natural Disaster,” Denies Blocking ADC Convention

By Toffa Momoh

ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described damage to the Kugbo Bus Terminal as a natural disaster caused by a severe windstorm, not structural failure. He also denied claims that his office blocked the African Democratic Congress from securing a venue for its national convention.

Wike spoke to journalists after an extensive inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects across the FCT.

Kugbo Terminal Incident
Addressing reports that the Kugbo Bus Terminal had collapsed, the minister clarified that only the roof was affected during a recent heavy rainfall accompanied by intense winds.

“The kind of wind we saw, we have never imagined,” Wike said. “Remember, the bus terminal at Kugbo is on top of the hill and it is higher than all the buildings you see there. That wind blew off the roofing sheets.”

He stressed that the roof was built with steel, not wood, and that the main structure remained intact. “To tell you how strong that wind was, it took off all the roofing sheets. But it did not affect the main structure. It’s just the roofing sheet.”

Responding to calls for sanctions against the contractor, Wike defended the construction quality and blamed the incident on extreme weather. “Why will I sanction them? Assuming the building collapsed, then I will talk about sanctioning the contractor. But this is nature. There was nothing the contractor could have done to avert that incident.”

Project Inspection Update
The minister’s tour covered the OSEX main carriageways, local streets within Gaduwa District, and access roads to the Wasa Informal Sector.

On the OSEX main carriageways, Wike said contractor China Geo-Engineering Construction (CGC) assured him the project would be ready for commissioning in May. Work on access roads within Gaduwa is also nearing completion, he added, noting he had directed the installation of protective mesh to prevent encroachment on internal road corridors while street lighting work continues.

The Wasa informal sector access road is expected to be completed by the end of May. Wike linked the project to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to relocate Apo Mechanic traders.

“Previous governments promised the Apo Mechanic traders that they are going to relocate them from where they are but didn’t. I thank God that this administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been able to fulfill it,” Wike said. “We are providing the infrastructure needed and you have also seen that the company, China Geo-Engineering Construction (CGC) has promised that by the end of May, it would have been completed and then we start working on how the informal sector and Apo Mechanic village will move into the place.”

ADC Venue Denial Allegations
Wike rejected claims that the ADC was denied a venue in the FCT for its national convention, saying his office and the Abuja Investment Company received no formal application to use Eagle Square or any other venue.

“Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development, and I don’t even know which party you are referring to. If it is the ADC, such claims are their usual attempt to gain public sympathy,” he stated.

He clarified that the Velodrome, recently used by the PDP for its convention, is managed by the National Sports Commission, not the FCTA. He added that both the PDP and APC paid to use public venues in the past, and that revenue from such bookings funds public projects.

“As I speak to you, nobody has written any letter. I don’t know the venue they are talking about. Let’s even assume that it’s the Eagle Square, nobody wrote any letter to use the Eagle Square. There is no way we will deny them because we will collect revenue from that,” Wike said. “Why would we stop them from holding their convention? If they pay, we will have the money to do our projects. As far as I’m concerned, we don’t have any reason to deny people venues to use for their convention.”

The inspection was attended by CGC Deputy Managing Director Lv Haiming, Executive Secretary FCDA Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, and CGC’s Managing Director for Marketing Hong Chong.

Photos from the tour showed ongoing construction of the Apo/Wasa dual carriageway bridge and an aerial view of the Wasa Informal Sector access road.