Windstorm Tears Off Roof Of Newly Built Kugbo Bus Terminal, Triggers Gridlock On Abuja-Keffi Highway

A fierce rainstorm on Tuesday afternoon devastated the newly constructed but yet-to-function Kugbo bus terminal, tearing off its roof and plunging the busy Abuja-Keffi highway into hours of chaotic traffic.

The downpour, which began abruptly around 3:30 pm, lasted less than an hour but packed enough force to rip the entire roof covering of the terminal.

Sheets of corrugated metal and twisted steel beams were flung across both lanes of the dual carriageway, forcing motorists to swerve dangerously or come to a complete halt.

By early evening, the wreckage had turned the Kugbo section of the highway into a virtual parking lot, with queues stretching several kilometres in both directions.

Commuters heading toward the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and those exiting toward Keffi found themselves trapped in the gridlock as recovery teams struggled to clear the debris.

The Kugbo bus terminal is one of three major intercity bus terminals inaugurated with fanfare in June 2025, designed to decongest the city centre and streamline transport along the busy corridor.

Its destruction before becoming operational has raised questions about construction standards and the durability of the new infrastructure.

In the immediate aftermath, scavengers defied the still-pouring rain, swarming both sides of the highway to cart away valuable metal parts, wiring, and other accessories from the destroyed roof.

“It was like vultures circling a carcass.  Even as the rain fell heavily, they were cutting and dragging the roof sheets. Nobody could stop them. The police were not there yet,” said Danjuma Musa, a commercial driver.

Another eyewitness, Grace Okafor, who was hiding from the rain under the Karu Bridge, near the terminal, expressed shock at the speed of the destruction.

“That terminal was brand new. We were all waiting for it to open so business would boom.

In less than 30 minutes, the wind just lifted everything. It sounded like an explosion. Now the place looks like a war zone,” she said.

The debris-laden road remained partially blocked, with fears that morning commuters would face a fresh round of severe delays.

In a statement signed by Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, the minister has directed that security personnel be deployed to the scene, while immediate action will be taken to repair the damage caused by the windstorm.

According to the statement, the windstorm, which occurred during a heavy rainfall a few hours ago, also caused minor damage to the Nyanya pedestrian bridge and some buildings in the area.

“From preliminary reports, no one was injured, and no vehicle was damaged.

To prevent breakdown of law and order, as well as free flow of traffic, the FCT minister has directed that security men be deployed to the scene, while immediate action will be taken towards fixing the damages caused by the windstorm,” he stated.