The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved 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, disclosed this after the FEC meeting, saying 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 described the project as the Federal Government’s first direct intervention in road transport infrastructure beyond road construction, noting that the locations were selected for their economic viability.

He said 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.

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

He added 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.