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Apo Mechanics: Wike sets 7-Days verification deadline for relocation.

by admin on | 2026-10-01 09:01:24

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Apo Mechanics: Wike  sets 7-Days verification deadline for relocation.

 

By Abdullahi Muhammad

 Abuja

 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike On Wednesday  stripped the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) of its direct oversight regarding the long-delayed relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village.

 

Taking direct control of the process, Wike ordered a strict one-week physical enumeration exercise to capture genuine beneficiaries and warned that fake entries, non-traders, and fraudulent land developers will be rooted out.

 

He announced the administrative takeover during a high-level meeting with officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) and leadership factions of the Apo mechanics and traders.

 

The meeting highlighted rift lines within the artisan leadership regarding how the government is conducting the relocation exercise.

 

Chief Chimezie Ifeh, President General of the Apo Trades Association, complained that FCDA directors had ignored association letters since land was initially granted in 2015. 

 

He disputed the ongoing enumeration, claiming true traders were bypassed because the association was not allowed to submit its master list.

 

However, Chinedu Nweke, Acting Coordinating Chairman of Apo Mechanics and Traders, contradicted Ifeh, thanking the Minister for a hands-on approach. Nweke stated that earlier association-led lists were heavily abused by leadership compiling names of non-traders. 

 

He praised the AMMC for stepping in to conduct direct, physical captures on the ground.

 

 

Responding to the claims of list manipulation, Wike declared that the relocation process would now run directly through his office, under the management of his Chief of Staff, the Director of Land, the Director of Urban Planning, and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

 

"I have canceled AMMC. It is now directly under me so that I will know what is going on," Wike stated, granting a three-day grace window for any active trader missed during earlier captures.

 

He instructed that two trade representatives accompany officials to verify each person physically sitting at their workshop.

 

"Anybody whose name is on the list but is not physically present will be removed," he warned.

 

Wike also cracked down on third-party private developers and consultants who had applied through AMMC for layout contract work.

 

"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 directed that all developer applications and bank statements be brought directly to his office for review ahead of a follow-up assessment meeting scheduled for Monday, October 12th.

 

Reassuring the traders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration is delivering fully serviced infrastructure rather than empty political promises, 

 

Wike pledged to sign up to 5,000 individual title documents personally before the end of the year.

However, the Minister made it clear that final title delivery remains tied to performance and mutual cooperation.

 

"When we agree on something and I fulfill my end, I expect you to fulfill yours... You do for me, I do for you," Wike said, calling on the mechanics and their families to mobilize political support and votes for the ruling APC in upcoming elections, a pledge both trade faction leaders explicitly backed.

 

According to the FCTA Director of Urban Affairs, the project covers over 4,000 eligible beneficiaries. 

 

The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwakwoeze, explained that previous 2015 allocation attempts failed legally because only "letters of intent" were issued without binding development lease agreements.

 

He noted that under the newly approved structure, a statutory Right of Occupancy is assigned to Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) to manage and subdivide, after which the FCTA will issue direct, individual bankable titles to each verified shop owner.