FG to build bus terminals, CNG stations across Nigeria

The Federal government has revealed plans to build bus terminals and CNG stations in across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. 

Speaking in Abuja, the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali said “last week, the Federal Executive Council (NEC) approved National land Transport Policy for Nigeria.

“This policy is the first of its kind in the history of this country” the Minister noted, stating that the land transport sector is the most burden mode of transportation in any part of the world, 

“A lot of potentials remain untapped here, and we feel we should harness all these potentials by having a framework on which the sector needs to operate. So, with the passage of this Policy, the framework is going to strengthen the sector.

“We have moved the sector to the next level with the support and cooperation of the President and the Federal Executive council with the approval of the contract for the construction of Six bus terminals as a pilot scheme, one from each of the six political zones.

“The locations of sites are chosen on their economic viability, and this is just a pilot scheme. We are going to engage with the World Bank to continue with the development of these Terminus,” he stated.

Alkali explained that “these bus terminals will have CNG centers and the presence of security agencies because we have observed that most of the reasons behind these road traffic accidents is linked to drug abuse”.

He stated that to further strengthen security on the roads, government will be insisting on the use of manifest for the passengers that takeoff from the station, whether the buses belong to government or to private individuals, “still, government have a responsibility to ensure safety. So, we need to have all these facilities are on our roads” he stated.

The Minister also highlighted ongoing development in the rail sector, noting that “we have put our corridor on the Eastern narrow gauge from Port Harcourt to Aba to use. The project was just at the outskirt of Port Harcourt but by the grace of God Almighty, we are able to achieve Port Harcourt to Aba. 

“It has been put into use since last year, and by the grace of God, we are working hard to see how we can as well put another corridor from Kaduna to Kano to use hopefully by the end of next year.

“From Kano to Katina with a branch line to Jigawa state, they have already started laying the rail track. So all these are monumental achievements that the government has achieved in the last two years in the transportation sector”. 

He emphasised that transportation is a gateway to the economy of any nation with the capacity to boost growth and improve the livelihood of citizens.

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