Favour Ishember, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, has issued a tough ultimatum to commercial drivers who ignore Abuja’s bus terminal rules.
Speaking on Saturday during a tour of key road projects, including the Apo-Karshi and Bwari-Kubwa routes, Wike also spoke on the push to reclaim Abuja’s parks, noting infrastructure is the tool for political campaigns ahead of 2027.
Wike said, “The FCT will no longer tolerate indiscriminate pickups or operations outside approved bus terminals,” he said.
“We’re about to get a bit tough, and they’ll get the message that rules are rules,” Wike warned.
“They don’t have a choice. They must comply. We’ll impound their vehicles. Just wait and see.”
The crackdown comes as the FCT administration ramps up efforts to bring order to the capital’s transport system.
The Minister also announced that the government has started taking back green spaces allegedly seized by car dealers and other businesses. He blamed some civil servants for illegally allocating land meant for parks and public use.
“We’ve kicked off the process. What some civil servants do is appalling. Before you know it, they’ve issued allocation papers and turned green zones into car lots. That’s why you now see parks being used to sell vehicles.”
Wike clarified that building approvals aren’t signed by him personally, but by the relevant FCT departments and agencies.
Now that the illegal occupation has come to light, he said a task force has been set up.
“If you refuse to vacate the green areas, we’ll tow your vehicles. We may even auction them,” he warned.
He added that offenders will be given time to comply before full enforcement begins, and any vehicle found on a green space will be seized.
During the inspection, Wike praised progress on the Apo-Karshi Road, calling it a “dream come true” for residents who have long demanded better access.
“I’m really pleased, thank God. The people of Karshi are thrilled with how far we’ve come,” he said.
He commended the contractor for staying on the job even with unpaid bills, saying their confidence in the administration has paid off.
“They’ve promised completion by November, and I won’t be surprised. Look at the work SCC has delivered,” Wike said.
In Bwari, he noted the 14km+ Bwari-Kubwa Road as another project many thought would never happen.
“People ask me about campaigning. I tell them — look at the campaign. Campaign is: what have you done for the people? What can the government point to? It’s not about promises. It’s about results that actually improve lives.”
He said the FCT expects to commission more than 10 major projects before the 2027 elections, with direct benefits for residents’ economy and daily life.
“Life isn’t smooth from start to finish. You face bumps. That’s reality,” he said.
“But challenges make you value progress more. I’m proud of what the team has achieved. Residents can see that Abuja has changed.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity and promised transparency: “the FCT will soon release a full list of projects inherited from Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari administrations, plus new ones awarded under Tinubu. Nigerians will judge for themselves,” he said.
Addressing his absence from the newly inaugurated APC presidential campaign council, Wike said titles don’t matter.
“I don’t want to lose my base. I’ll stay in my territory. I have two bases to deliver: FCT and Rivers. That’s what counts. It’s not about being DG.”
“Every politics is local. If you can’t win your state, what’s the point? Even as DG, you should be ashamed if you lose your own state.”
He also clarified: “I am not a member of the APC,” despite his strong backing for the Tinubu government.
Wike wrapped up his inspection by tying the roads, parks, and urban renewal work directly to the Tinubu administration’s scorecard, arguing that concrete projects speak louder than rallies. At the same time, the new enforcement drive signals a stricter era for public space and transport management in Abuja.
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