After waiting for more than a decade, thousands of Apo mechanics, artisans and traders can finally heave a sigh of relief as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday fulfilled the long-delayed promise to relocate them to the Wasa District in Abuja.
The President commissioned the access roads, electricity and water supply to the Informal Sector Layout in Wasa, clearing the way for the relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village in line with the Abuja Master Plan.
Represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu said previous administrations made repeated promises to relocate the traders but failed to deliver.
“The relocation to Wasa District was a promise long delayed by previous administrations. Today, under this administration, that promise has been fulfilled,” he declared.
He said the project was more than the construction of roads and public utilities, describing it as a major investment in the country’s informal sector, which provides livelihoods for millions of Nigerians.
“What we are commissioning today goes far beyond access roads, electricity and water supply. This is an investment in human dignity and economic freedom.
“The informal sector is the true engine of our economy. By providing world-class infrastructure here in Wasa, we are creating a modern commercial hub that will boost Abuja’s Internally Generated Revenue and reduce the cost of doing business,” he said.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to ensuring that no group was left behind under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also acknowledged the economic hardship facing many Nigerians, saying the ongoing reforms were painful but necessary to rebuild the nation’s economy.
“I feel your pain, I hear your concerns and I carry the weight of your daily struggles. The reforms are difficult, but they are necessary surgeries to save the patient. Your sacrifices will not be in vain,” the President said.
Earlier, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said Tinubu had succeeded where previous administrations failed by delivering on the relocation promise within months.
According to him, discussions with the Apo Mechanic Traders Association began shortly after the administration assumed office in 2023, while the contract for the infrastructure was awarded in November last year.
“Every government promised to move the mechanics here but never fulfilled it. President Tinubu made the promise, awarded the contract in November and today, less than one year later, we are commissioning it,” Wike said.
He urged members of the Apo Mechanic Traders Association to resolve their internal disputes and prepare to move into the new layout.
“Mr. President has fulfilled his own agreement. It is now your turn to fulfil yours. Put your house in order so that you can relocate without delay,” he said.
Wike also commended CGC Nigeria Limited for delivering the project on schedule and thanked the host communities, National Assembly and Area Council chairmen for supporting the execution of projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
Also speaking, Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as another milestone in the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure drive, saying ongoing projects across Abuja were restoring the city’s status as a modern capital and improving the lives of residents.
