Rainstorm destroys Abuja bus terminal

The rainfall impacted parts of the new terminal, with sections of the roof affected and debris scattered onto the highway, obstructing vehicular movement.

The incident led to severe congestion on the busy corridor linking the FCT to neighbouring Nasarawa State, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.

The bus terminal is yet to be in use.

Eyewitnesses said some vehicles were affected by the debris, while residents and road users made efforts to clear the obstruction to ease traffic flow.

READ ALSO: FULL LIST: 13 Prominent Nigerian celebrities, entertainers holding political positions  

The Abuja Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre operated by the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) area is the most impacted area on the highway.

As of the time of filing this report, traffic remained slow-moving, with motorists advised to exercise caution while approaching the axis.

Mr. John Ona, a passerby, said: “This is caused by a rainstorm this afternoon and it destroyed the yet-to-be-functioning Kugbo bus terminal.

“The downpour, which started around 3:30 pm, blew away the terminal’s roof across the Kugbo section of the Abuja-Keffi highway.”

The situation has caused heavy traffic on both sides of the dual carriageways.

Scavengers, who defied the downpour, were on both sides of the road, carting away valuable parts of the destroyed roof and other accessories littering the road.

The terminal is one of the three inaugurated last year.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka said: “The windstorm, which occurred during a heavy rainfall a few hours ago, also caused a minor damage to the Nyanya pedestrian bridge and some buildings in the area.

“From preliminary reports, no one was injured, and no vehicle was damaged. To prevent breakdown of law and order, as well as free flow of traffic, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed that security men be deployed to the scene, while immediate action will be taken towards fixing the damages caused by the windstorm.”