By Stanley Onyekwere
In a strategic move to sanitize the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and expand the city’s tax base, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has announced that the long-awaited relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village to Wasa is now a “fulfilled promise”.
The relocation is not only a solution to a decades-old land-use challenge but a deliberate pillar of the administration’s strategy to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
During a project inspection on Thursday, Wike emphasized that transitioning informal business sectors into organized, infrastructure-rich hubs like the new Wasa site is essential for sustainable city financing.
The Minister stated that the provision of high-quality infrastructure at the Wasa relocation site—including near-completed roads, upcoming solar streetlights, and a new water scheme—is a prerequisite for effective revenue collection.
He noted that by moving the mechanics to an organized area, the FCT administration can more effectively capture necessary taxes from businesses that previously operated in unregulated spaces.
Wike noted that every business activity taking place within these organized hubs will contribute directly to the city’s revenue.
The Minister explained that providing the necessary infrastructure makes it easier for businessmen to set up, which in turn improves the FCT’s overall revenue base.
The relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village has been a “burning issue” for several past administrations.
Wike highlighted that under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project has moved from a mere promise to a reality, with the site nearing 100% completion.
Despite the government’s outstanding financial obligations to contractors like CGC, the Minister praised their commitment to completing the project in time for the President’s third anniversary.
This infrastructure push also includes satellite water schemes in Karu and Bwari, further expanding the FCT’s reach and service-based revenue potential.
He said: “We have provided the infrastructure needed; it’s just for them to come in and set up. And then from that place, we will collect our necessary taxes”.
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