FCTA Set To Commence Relocation Of Apo Mechanic And Traders
Following the successful provision and commissioning of vital infrastructure at the Informal Sector in Wassa District for the relocation of Apo Mechanics and Traders, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has constituted a high-powered Committee to ensure a seamless and hitch-free relocation exercise.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with the leadership and members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Minister disclosed that he will chair the Committee while members will include the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Hon Chidi Amadi, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda and the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
Other members of the Committee, according to the Minister are the Ag Director Urban Affairs, in AMMC, Tpl Abubakar Makama and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu.
The Minister directed the committee to engage directly with the traders’ associations to resolve all lingering grievances and submit a comprehensive report within one week. To guarantee transparency, Barrister Wike ordered an immediate fresh physical verification exercise at the Apo Mechanic Village to ensure that every genuine business operator is accurately captured. The directive follows concerns raised by a faction of the association regarding the previous enumeration process, which they alleged compromised their interests.
Addressing the aggrieved members, the Minister stressed that a physical identification method is essential to eliminate fraud and administrative inflation. He emphasized that physical verification remains the only credible approach to ensure that genuine traders and mechanics occupying the area are duly protected, noting that allowing unverified list submissions invites non-stakeholders who have no actual business presence at the site.
“What is better is to do physical identification and enumeration because if we allow people to go and write names, you will write your in-laws, you will write your great grandchildren who do not even have anything to do with the area. So, physical identification and enumeration is the best method”, the Minister stated.
He urged all parties to cooperate fully to enable a swift conclusion of the exercise, noting that the continued presence of the mechanics and traders at the current Apo location is directly obstructing an ongoing major road project. Giving a three-day window for affected traders to participate in the fresh enumeration, he appealed for calm and understanding, reassuring them that the administration is determined to finalize the relocation and issue titles before the end of the year once full cooperation is established.
“Now, if you say you were not part of it, I will give you an opportunity within three days to go and do the enumeration that you are saying you didn’t do. I’m talking about those who are doing business there and we will see the type of business you are doing”, the FCT Minister said.
“However, I don’t want any hiccups. What I will plead with all of you is that please take it easy so we don’t use this excuse and stop this movement. It is for your own good. Let us agree in principle that the time to move has come. I must give you this title anyhow before the end of this year. For me I can sign it in a day, even if it is 4,000 or 5,000, I can sign it in a day. My problem is you cooperating. Government has designed that area as a different place. If we don’t do it now, you may not get it again. Cooperate with them and we will do it in one week”, the Minister stated.
Demonstrating the administration’s commitment to securing the livelihoods of the traders, Barrister Wike instructed the Director of Land Administration to immediately prepare the Rights of Occupancy (R of O) for his signature. He assured the traders that upon the commencement of development at the permanent site in Wassa, Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) will also be issued to all verified beneficiaries.
Reiterating that previous attempts to relocate the traders over the years were bogged down by political promises, the Minister assured the delegation that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to making the relocation a reality.
He recalled that primary infrastructure at the Wassa site had already been completed and officially commissioned by the administration, calling on the traders to also give their full support to the President.
“See as we are taking pains to solve your problems. So, take pains to also give the President your support. It would be an act of wickedness for you not to appreciate it. What is governance? It is making the people to be happy …The Man has done the roads and where you can move to, why will you not vote for him”, the Minister queried.
He announced that should the President lose the FCT or Rivers State, it would be an indication that he is not worthy of occupying the seat as the Minister of the nation’s capital city.
“FCT is where I work. Rivers State is my State. If I cannot deliver where I work, I am not worthy to be here. It means that whatever I’ve been doing here, the people don’t think that I’m doing the right thing. If I lose here, I shouldn’t be in that position. If I lose FCT, I’m not supposed to be FCT Minister. And if I go back to my State and the President cannot win, then why am I shouting ‘President’?”, he queried.
In their respective responses, leaders of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association, Chief Chimezie Ifeh and Comrade Chinedu Nweke, expressed deep appreciation to the Minister for his hands-on approach and commitment to their welfare. Describing the impending relocation as a long-awaited dream come true, the traders commended Nyesom Wike for consistently visiting their domain and engaging with grassroots stakeholders, unlike past administrations. The leadership pledged their unalloyed cooperation towards a peaceful relocation process and affirmed their total support for the current administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The high-level engagement was attended by FCT Area Council Chairmen, the two APC candidates for the FCT House of Representatives seats in the National Assembly alongside senior directors and key officials of the FCT Administration.
