Relocation of Apo mechanic village to Wasa not revenue-driven – FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, says the relocation of Apo Mechanic village to a permanent site in Wasa District is not revenue-driven.

“The relocation is to give way for the construction of a 10-lane expressway to Wasa,” Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, has said.

Obuah told newsmen after the 10th FCT Executive Council Meeting, in Abuja on Monday, that the N300,000 application fee for those who declared interest to be relocated to Wasa was to ensure a seamless process.

He disclosed that the council was considering a downward review of the fee to ensure that all spare part dealers, traders, and artisans on the Apo road corridor were able to pay.

The coordinator explained that the Apo Mechanic currently operating along the Apo mechanic road corridor was made up of more than 51 associations.

He said that the leaders of the associations have claimed that the 51 associations have more than 51,800 registered members.

He, however, said that on conducting a physical enumeration to determine the actual figure, only 15,000 members were discovered to be genuine dealers, traders and artisans on the road corridor.

Obuah added that when the council asked interested traders to apply for the relocation, only 12,000 had so far applied and paid the N300,000 fee.

“I want to make it very clear that the FCTA is not interested in making money from the traders, dealers and artisans.

“What FCTA is interested in is how to make sure only the spare part dealers, traders and artisans operating on the Apo road corridor benefited from the relocation exercise.

“The executive council is putting measures in place to make sure that all those operating in the road corridor give way to enable the construction of the 10-lane Outer Southern Expressway to Wasa,” he said.

The coordinator added that the council had directed that a committee be set up to make sure that none of the traders, dealers or artisans on the road corridor is shortchanged in any way.