The Federal Government has approved the sum of N142 billion for the construction of modern bus terminals in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

This decision was reached during a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Minister of Transportation, Sai’du Alkali, who briefed reporters after the meeting, described the project as a landmark initiative, marking the first time the government is investing in transportation infrastructure beyond road construction.

The terminals are to 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).

According to Alkali, the locations were selected based on their economic potential and strategic importance to road transport.

“This is the first time the government is intervening in our road infrastructure beyond just building roads. The lack of proper terminals has contributed to rising incidents of crime, road traffic accidents, and the movement of illegal arms across highways,” he said.

He added that the ministry sought and obtained approval from the President and the FEC to execute the terminal projects as a way of improving commuter safety and streamlining road transport nationwide.

In a related directive, the government has also instructed all ministries, departments, and agencies handling contracts under the 2024 budget to complete their procurement processes by the end of September 2025.