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ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent process for relocating the Apo Mechanic Village to a permanent site in Wasa District.
This relocation aims to clear the corridor for the construction of the 10-lane Outer Southern Expressway.
Chief Felix Obuah, the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), disclosed this during a press briefing following the 10th FCT Executive Council Meeting in Abuja.
Addressing concerns about the N300,000 application fee, Obuah explained that the charge was introduced to streamline the relocation process. However, he noted that the council is considering reducing the fee to make it affordable for all spare part dealers, traders, and artisans along the Apo road corridor.
“The FCTA is not interested in making money from the traders, dealers, and artisans. What we want is to ensure that only those genuinely operating in the Apo road corridor benefit from the relocation exercise,” Obuah stated.
Obuah revealed that the Apo Mechanic Village comprises over 51 associations claiming more than 51,800 registered members. However, a physical enumeration exercise conducted by the FCTA identified only 15,000 genuine dealers, traders, and artisans.
Out of these, only 12,000 individuals have applied and paid the required fee for relocation to the Wasa site. The coordinator assured stakeholders that measures are being taken to ensure that the relocation process is inclusive and beneficial to all legitimate operators.
To further streamline the process, the FCT Executive Council has directed the formation of a committee to oversee the relocation.
The committee will ensure that: Only genuine spare part dealers, traders, and artisans are relocated; The interests of all stakeholders are protected during the exercise; and the relocation aligns with the broader goal of developing Wasa and enhancing Abuja’s infrastructure.
The FCTA emphasized that clearing the Apo road corridor is crucial for constructing the 10-lane Outer Southern Expressway, which will improve connectivity to Wasa and other areas.
Chief Obuah reiterated the FCTA’s dedication to ensuring a seamless transition for affected individuals while advancing the city’s infrastructure development agenda.
