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More than a decade after successive administrations pledged to relocate mechanics, artisans and traders from the congested Apo Mechanic Village, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday fulfilled the long-standing commitment with the commissioning of access roads, electricity and water infrastructure at the Informal Sector Layout in Wasa District, Abuja.
The infrastructure, commissioned on the President’s behalf by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, is expected to facilitate the relocation of thousands of traders and mechanics to the new site, in line with the Abuja Master Plan.
Describing the project as a major milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu said his administration was determined to ensure that infrastructure development serves ordinary Nigerians and expands economic opportunities across all sectors.
“The relocation to Wasa District was a promise long delayed by previous administrations. Today, under this administration, that promise has been fulfilled,” the President said.
He explained that the project extended beyond the provision of roads, electricity and water, describing it as an investment in livelihoods and economic inclusion.
“What we are commissioning today goes far beyond the provision of access roads, erecting electricity poles or laying water pipes. This is an investment in human dignity and economic freedom.
“The informal sector is the true engine of our economy, sustaining millions of livelihoods. By providing premium infrastructure here in Wasa, we are transforming this district into a modern, vibrant commercial hub that will boost Abuja’s Internally Generated Revenue and lower the cost of doing business,” he stated.
For years, mechanics and traders operating along the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) corridor had awaited relocation as stipulated in the Abuja Master Plan, with previous commitments failing to materialise.
Tinubu said the commissioning underscored his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance.
“When we took the oath of office and presented the Renewed Hope Agenda to the Nigerian people, we made a solemn pledge that no segment of our society would be left behind and that infrastructure would not be built for only the elite, but as a ladder for the economic empowerment of the everyday Nigerian,” he said.
The President also acknowledged the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, saying the ongoing reforms, though painful, were necessary to lay the foundation for long-term economic stability and prosperity.
“I am deeply aware of the current economic realities across our nation. As your President, I feel your pain, I hear your concerns, and I carry the weight of your daily struggles.
“The economic reforms we have initiated are undoubtedly painful, and their immediate impact has been heavy on households and businesses alike. However, these decisions were not made lightly; they are difficult but necessary surgeries required to save the patient,” he added.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to implement targeted social intervention programmes, strengthen agricultural investments to improve food security and sustain infrastructure development to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, said the project reflected President Tinubu’s commitment to translating promises into tangible results.
He recalled that shortly after assuming office in August 2023, the FCT Administration began consultations with stakeholders, including the Apo Mechanic Traders Association, on implementing the relocation in accordance with the Abuja Master Plan.
According to Wike, although previous administrations repeatedly promised to move the traders to Wasa, none delivered until the current administration awarded the infrastructure contract in November 2025.
“Every government that came promised that Apo traders and mechanics would be moved here because staying along the road was not conducive. Those promises were never fulfilled.
“But when Bola Ahmed Tinubu became President, he made the promise and approved the project. The contract was awarded in November last year, and today we are commissioning it. It is not even up to one year,” Wike said.
He urged members of the Apo Mechanic Traders Association to resolve their internal differences to facilitate their relocation to the new site.
“Now that the government has fulfilled its own agreement, I hope you will fulfil yours. Put your house in order so that you can comfortably move here and enjoy the environment,” he said.
The minister also commended CGC Nigeria Limited for delivering the project within schedule and acknowledged the support of host communities, the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Development Authority and Area Council chairmen in ensuring the successful execution of infrastructure projects across the FCT.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as another milestone in the ongoing renewal of infrastructure in the nation’s capital.
She said the Tinubu administration’s continued investment in strategic infrastructure was restoring confidence in governance, improving the business environment and repositioning Abuja as a modern capital city that reflects global standards. This version reflects The Guardian’s style by leading with the broader policy significance, using restrained language, providing context before quotes, and maintaining a balanced, formal narrative.
