UMUAHIA – Abia State’s multi-billion naira Umuahia Central Bus Terminal is nearing completion, with government officials projecting delivery before the end of December 2025. The facility, now named the Nnenna Bus Terminal, is set to become the state’s first integrated transport hub, consolidating all motor parks in the capital under one roof.
Project Scope and Location
The terminal is being constructed on the site of the former Umuahia Urban Market at Ishi Gate, a strategic location intended to ease access for commuters within and outside the state capital. Awarded in 2024 by the administration of Governor Alex Otti, the project is designed to end the proliferation of motor parks across Umuahia, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the city’s aesthetic appeal.
According to Abia State Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, over 85% of construction work has been completed. “The contractor told us that the project will be handed over before the end of this year… At average, the level of completion is over 85%,” Ukaegbu told Vanguard in a July 2025 interview.
Integrated Transport Hub
The terminal is being developed as a “one-stop transport hub” for all modes of travel. “Whatever mode of transport you want to use to travel, once you come into the central bus terminal, you’ll be able to get it,” Ukaegbu said.
Key features include:
- Relocation of Umuahia’s existing motor parks into a centralized system
- Integration of the Umuahia railway station, which will be moved from its former site into the new terminal following agreements with the Nigerian Railway Corporation
- Charging stations for electric buses, with supporting mini-grid solar power plants under construction
- Ancillary facilities including a hotel, shopping plaza, children’s playground, and cinema, modeled after Lagos’ Oshodi Terminal
Electric Bus Rollout
The terminal’s completion coincides with the launch of Abia’s electric mass transit scheme. Twenty electric buses procured by the state government began operation in December 2024, offering free transportation services to residents while charging infrastructure is finalized. Governor Otti has inspected the buses and engaged with crew members to assess operational compliance.
Broader Transport Reform
The Umuahia terminal is part of a wider overhaul of Abia’s transport infrastructure. A similar ultra-modern bus terminal is under construction in Aba, with a May 2026 completion target. “We are going to have a centralized park system in Umuahia and Aba,” Ukaegbu stated.
Private operators are already establishing presence at the site. Chisco Transport has opened a terminal at 1 Nkwerre Street, by Umuwaya Road, adjacent to the new facility.
Significance
Once operational, the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal is expected to streamline inter-state and intra-city travel, improve passenger safety and comfort, and boost commercial activity in the state capital. The integration of rail, road, and electric transit positions Abia as a pioneer in multimodal transport planning in the Southeast.
With contractors working “day and night” to meet the December deadline, residents and commuters are anticipating the terminal’s opening as a major milestone in Governor Otti’s infrastructure agenda.
Sources: Vanguard, Punch Newspapers, July–September 2025
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