It all started with a heavy downpour and a severe storm that ripped through Abuja, leaving a trail of damage in its wake. Among the casualties was the newly built Kugbo Bus Terminal. On Thursday, April 9th, during Arise TV’s morning show, news anchor Vimbai Mutinhiri brought this to national attention, her voice laced with concern. She pointed out the stark reality of climate change and environmental shifts, but what truly struck her – and subsequently, the viewers – was the state of the Kugbo Bus Terminal. “The climate and the environment has changed, but what grabbed my attention was the fact that there was a Kugbo bus terminal which was also destroyed by some of that heavy wind and heavy rainfall, and this is a bus terminal that’s yet to be commissioned,” Vimbai stated, a hint of incredulity in her tone.
She continued, highlighting its connection to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his prominent infrastructure initiatives. “One of those, you know, trade mark infrastructure projects by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesome Wike. You know, we thank God it hadn’t been commissioned yet because that would have been a real catastrophe.” Vimbai stressed these words, clearly implying that the damage to an uncommissioned project, while unfortunate, was a lesser evil than if it had already been in use, potentially endangering lives. This statement immediately raised a crucial question: had the Kugbo Bus Terminal truly not been commissioned? It was a claim that sparked discussion and, as we would soon find out, a closer look at the facts.
The claim, stark and direct, was that “The Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja has not been commissioned.” This assertion, made on live television, quickly caught the attention of fact-checkers at The FactCheckHub. In an era where information spreads rapidly, distinguishing fact from fiction is paramount, especially when it concerns public infrastructure and government projects. The FactCheckHub, dedicated to combating information disorder, immediately launched an investigation. They understood the gravity of such a statement, particularly given its potential to fuel public distrust and misperceptions about a significant public investment. The screenshot of the Arise News TV broadcast, frozen at the moment Vimbai made her statement, served as a tangible starting point for their rigorous inquiry, a visual timestamp on a statement that warranted thorough scrutiny.
The findings from The FactCheckHub’s investigation quickly dismantled the initial claim. A comprehensive search into public records and official announcements unequivocally revealed that Vimbai Mutinhiri’s statement was, in fact, false. The terminal, far from being uncommissioned, had officially celebrated its inauguration in June 2025. This was not a standalone project but part of a much larger vision – a N51 billion contract approved back in May 2024 for the development of three critical transportation hubs: Kugbo, Mabushi, and the Central Business District terminals in Abuja. The commissioning ceremony itself was a high-profile event, underscoring its significance. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a figure of national importance, had been represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who officially unveiled the Kugbo Bus and International Taxi Terminal on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
The event was also graced by the presence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who had indeed played a pivotal role in overseeing the project’s completion, working closely with the contracted firm, Planet Projects Limited. This collaboration between government and private entities highlighted a concerted effort to enhance Abuja’s public transportation infrastructure. The fact-checking journey also uncovered the precise timing of the unfortunate windstorm. On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a year after its commissioning, the very windstorm Vimbai had referred to damaged parts of the bus terminal, tearing off sections of its roof and scattering debris across the Kugbo–Nyanya road. This sequence of events further clarified that while the damage was recent, the commissioning had predated it by a significant margin. The project, executed under the Federal Capital Territory Development Agency and the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, was undeniably a completed and officially recognized infrastructure.
Despite its official commissioning in June 2025 and the subsequent storm damage in April 2026, it’s worth noting that the terminal itself remained inactive and was not expected to be operational until later in 2026. This detail, unearthed during the fact-checking process, adds a nuanced layer to the story. It means that while the physical structure had been formally handed over and acknowledged as complete, it hadn’t yet begun serving its public purpose. This distinction is crucial, as it suggests a period between commissioning and full operational readiness, a common practice in large-scale infrastructure projects that allows for final preparations, staffing, and testing. However, the operational status did not negate the fact of its commissioning. The act of commissioning is a formal acknowledgment of project completion and official acceptance, irrespective of subsequent operational timelines or unforeseen damages.
Therefore, the verdict was clear and unambiguous: the claim that the Kugbo Bus Terminal had not been commissioned was demonstrably false. The publicly available records presented irrefutable evidence that confirmed its official commissioning on June 26, 2025. This meticulous debunking of misinformation was spearheaded by Zainab Abdulrasaq, a seasoned writer and literary curator, serving as a dedicated fact-checker for The FactCheckHub. Her work, and that of her team, is an ongoing battle against the spread of inaccurate information, striving to ensure that the public receives reliable and verified facts. This instance with the Kugbo Bus Terminal serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of rigorous fact-checking and the media’s responsibility to verify information before broadcasting it, safeguarding public discourse from the corrosive effects of misinformation.