Wike Takes Over Apo Mechanic Village Relocation, Orders Fresh Enumeration

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken direct control of the long-delayed relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village, ordering a fresh physical enumeration of genuine traders and mechanics within one week.

Wike also directed the immediate suspension of the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) from overseeing the relocation process, saying the exercise would henceforth be coordinated directly from his office.

The minister gave the directives on Wednesday during a meeting with officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) and representatives of mechanics and traders operating in the Apo area.

The meeting exposed disagreements among leaders of the artisans over the conduct of the enumeration and the compilation of beneficiaries’ lists.

President General of the Apo Trades Association, Chief Chimezie Ifeh, alleged that officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had failed to respond to correspondence from the association since the land was initially allocated in 2015.

He also challenged the ongoing enumeration, alleging that genuine traders had been left out because the association was not allowed to submit its master list.

However, acting coordinating chairman of the Apo Mechanics and Traders, Chinedu Nweke, disagreed with the claim, commending the minister for taking direct interest in the process.

Nweke alleged that previous lists compiled by the associations had been abused, with names of people who were not genuine traders included as beneficiaries.

He therefore supported the direct physical enumeration being conducted by the AMMC.

Responding to the conflicting claims, Wike said the relocation exercise would no longer be left solely in the hands of the AMMC.

“I have cancelled AMMC. It is now directly under me so that I will know what is going on,” he said.

He directed his Chief of Staff, Director of Land, Director of Urban Planning and officials of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to take charge of the process.

The minister also approved a three-day window for genuine traders who might have been missed during previous enumeration exercises to present themselves for verification.

He directed that representatives of the traders be part of the verification process, with officials required to physically confirm each claimant at his or her workshop.

“Anybody whose name is on the list but is not physically present will be removed,” Wike warned.

The minister also ordered a review of applications by private developers and consultants seeking to participate in the development of the relocation site.

He directed officials to identify the developers and obtain their applications and evidence of financial capacity for scrutiny.

“Whoever they are, go and get them. I am not the type of person you can fool by claiming to be a developer; you must prove the funds,” Wike said.

He ordered that the developers’ applications and bank statements be submitted to his office ahead of a follow-up meeting scheduled for October 12.

Wike also assured the mechanics and traders that the relocation scheme would be accompanied by infrastructure and individual titles for verified beneficiaries.

He said he was prepared to personally sign up to 5,000 individual title documents before the end of the year, subject to the completion of the required processes.

The minister, however, linked the delivery of titles to compliance with agreed terms by the beneficiaries.

“When we agree on something and I fulfil my end, I expect you to fulfil yours. You do for me, I do for you,” he said.

Wike also urged the mechanics and traders and their families to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in forthcoming elections, a call endorsed by representatives of the two factions of the traders’ leadership.

According to the FCTA Director of Urban Affairs, the relocation scheme has more than 4,000 eligible beneficiaries.

The director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwokwoeze, explained that an earlier attempt to regularise the allocation in 2015 failed to produce legally binding titles because beneficiaries were issued only letters of intent rather than development lease agreements.

He said the new arrangement provides for a statutory Right of Occupancy to be issued to Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL), which will manage and subdivide the site.

Following verification, the FCTA is expected to issue individual, bankable titles directly to eligible shop owners.