By Eunice Orike
The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, has said that the long-delayed relocation of Apo Mechanic Village to Wasa has now been delivered, marking a key step in its broader plan to expand the city’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base and modernise informal business clusters.
Minister of the federal capital territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, described the development as a “fulfilled promise” during an inspection of ongoing projects on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the relocation is not only a response to a long-standing land-use dispute but also a strategic economic reform.
According to him, the initiative is central to efforts aimed at converting informal commercial activities into structured business hubs where taxation and service delivery can be efficiently managed.
Wike explained that the new Wassa site has been designed with supporting infrastructure, including near-completed road networks, planned solar-powered street lighting, and an ongoing water supply scheme, all intended to create a functional business environment.
He stressed that such infrastructure is critical to attracting traders and artisans while also strengthening the government’s ability to capture revenue from business operations that previously existed outside the formal tax system.
“Once these businesses are properly situated in organized environments, it becomes easier for government to collect the necessary taxes that support city development,” he said.
The Minister noted that the provision of basic infrastructure removes barriers for business owners and improves operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to a stronger revenue base for the FCT.
The relocation of Apo Mechanic Village has remained a recurring challenge for successive administrations, but Wike said the project has now reached near completion under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
He commended contractors handling the project, including CGC, for sustaining progress despite outstanding financial obligations, expressing optimism that the project would be completed in line with the administration’s timeline.
Wike also referenced complementary infrastructure projects, including satellite water schemes in Karu and Bwari, describing them as part of a broader strategy to improve service delivery and expand revenue-generating capacity across the territory.
“We have provided the infrastructure needed; it is now for them to come in and set up. From there, government will collect its necessary taxes,” he added.
