For years, artisans and traders at the Apo Mechanic Village have worked in challenging conditions, forced to operate along busy road corridors in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory.
Their daily struggle to maintain their livelihoods has often been overshadowed by the chaos of unregulated spaces and a lack of proper infrastructure.
However, change is on the horizon with a new relocation plan aimed at offering a better environment for these workers.
The question on everyone’s mind, though, is whether the cost of relocation – set at ₦300,000 – is justified.
Many have been left wondering about the reasoning behind the ₦300,000 fee for moving to a new location in Wasa.
Is it truly for their benefit, or is it just another burden on the already struggling workers?
The answer came recently from Felix Obuah, the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), who took the time to address the concerns at a stakeholders’ meeting.
Not Just A Fee
According to Obuah, the sum is not just a fee but a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the relocation process, preventing fraud and ghost applications.
Obuah clarified that the ₦300,000 fee was for land registration as part of the ongoing exercise to relocate mechanic village traders from the road corridors in Apo.
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He explained that this non-refundable amount would help to prevent bogus applications and ensure that only those genuinely affected by the relocation were involved.
Furthermore, he revealed troubling instances of corruption, with some union leaders charging unsuspecting artisans as much as ₦1million for relocation forms.
Obuah vowed to take action against such fraudulent activities and assured the public that the process would remain transparent.
As of now, over 11,000 individuals have registered, and the relocation plan is expected to be concluded by the end of the month.
