REFORM TALKS with Enam Obiosio
In our national discourse, skepticism often overshadows optimism. Whenever the federal government announces a large-scale infrastructure project, the default reaction from many Nigerians is to assume waste, corruption, or futility. I understand this sentiment; our history is littered with uncompleted contracts, inflated costs, and abandoned sites. But I believe it is dangerous to let cynicism blind us to genuine opportunities. The newly approved N142billion for constructing modern bus terminals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones is one of those opportunities – and one I fully support.
Let us be clear: road transportation is the lifeblood of this country. Over 80% of human and goods movement in Nigeria happens on our roads. Yet, for decades, we have ignored the physical systems that make this movement safe, efficient, and economically beneficial. Today, countless passengers board vehicles on unsafe roadsides, with no protection from traffic, no reliable schedules, no public safety measures, and no coordinated ticketing. Unregulated motor parks have become breeding grounds for insecurity, street crime, and even illegal arms trafficking.
When the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Sai’du Alkali, says the absence of major bus terminals is contributing to crime, road accidents, and arms proliferation, he is not speculating—he is speaking from observed reality. For too long, road transport in Nigeria has been largely informal, fragmented, and dangerously unmanaged.
The decision to site these terminals in Abeokuta (South-West), Gombe (North-East), Kano (North-West), Lokoja (North-Central), Onitsha (South-East), and Ewu, Edo State (South-South) is not arbitrary. These are high-traffic, economically significant nodes that connect millions of travelers, traders, and goods transporters. Strategically placed, these hubs will not only improve safety but also act as catalysts for regional commerce, tourism, and urban renewal.
This project also represents a policy shift worth applauding. Traditionally, federal intervention in road transport has meant road construction alone. But roads, without proper nodes of entry and exit, without safe passenger handling points, remain incomplete. This is the first time the government is investing in the infrastructure ecosystem of road transport—taking a more holistic approach.
Beyond the terminals themselves, I am encouraged by the Federal Executive Council’s companion directive: that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must complete their procurement processes for 2024 projects by the end of September 2025. This is critical. Nigeria’s biggest infrastructure problem has never been a lack of budgets; it has been the slow and often sloppy execution of those budgets. By setting deadlines and demanding accountability, the government is confronting one of the most persistent bottlenecks in our public finance system.
This procurement discipline ties directly into another crucial recommendation by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)—to prioritize locally made goods and services that meet international standards. That means these terminals should not only be Nigerian-built but should also stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and deepen domestic capacity in construction, security technology, and facility management.
Of course, we must not be naive. Approval is not execution. Many great-sounding projects have been announced in the past only to die quietly after the headlines faded. For this project to deliver real value, three things must happen: Transparent procurement — every contract must be open to scrutiny, from bidding to delivery; Strict compliance with timelines — no endless extensions, no excuses; and Maintenance and sustainability planning — a terminal that is world-class on opening day but abandoned to decay within three years is worse than no terminal at all.
If implemented with integrity, these terminals can serve as more than just transportation points. They can become economic hubs—housing small businesses, ticketing systems, digital logistics platforms, and even tourism services. They can provide secure spaces for interstate travel, reducing crime, saving lives, and improving Nigeria’s image as a country capable of organized, modern public infrastructure.
Critics may still see the N142bn figure and cry foul. But let us remember—chaos also has a cost. Unregulated transport costs us lives, productivity, and investor confidence. Every accident caused by unsafe boarding points, every shipment delayed by disorganized transit, every crime committed in ungoverned motor parks drains our economy in ways that no budget line captures. The question we should be asking is not “Why spend this money?” but “Why did it take this long?”
This is why I choose to stand with the federal government on this. My support is not blind—it is conditional on transparency, accountability, and results. But if we want a Nigeria that moves with order, safety, and efficiency, we must support projects that lay the groundwork for that vision.
