No reason to sanction contractor over damaged Kugbo bus terminal, says Wike

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has said there is no basis to sanction the contractor handling the Kugbo bus terminal project.

Wike said the damage to the facility was caused by a windstorm and not structural failure, stating that only the roof of the terminal was affected.

The minister said the facility’s elevated location made it vulnerable to strong winds during heavy rainfall.

His words: “The kind of wind we saw, we have never imagined. Remember, that 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.

“They did not use ordinary wood for the roof. They used steel. 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.

“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.”

Wike expressed satisfaction with progress on key projects across the FCT, revealing that the contractor handling the OSEX main carriageways assured that the project would be ready for commissioning in May.

Wike said work on roads in Gaduwa district is nearing completion and street lighting works are ongoing in the area.

Wike thanked President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the relocation of Apo mechanic traders, saying: “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. I’m sure that everybody is happy that the Apo Mechanics will leave where they are and come to this place.

“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.”