Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has advanced efforts to relocate thousands of mechanics, artisans and traders from a congested commercial corridor in the nation’s capital by inaugurating key infrastructure at a new settlement in Wasa District, on the outskirts of Abuja.
The project includes access roads, electricity and water supply for an informal sector layout designed to accommodate businesses currently operating along the busy Outer Southern Expressway in the Apo area of Abuja.
The Coordinator of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Unity Forum, Mr Chinedu Nweke, described the development as the fulfilment of a long-standing government commitment that had remained unimplemented under previous administrations.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during the inauguration, Nweke said traders and artisans had spent decades seeking relocation to a permanent and better-planned business location.
“For years, we operated in an unsuitable environment along a major road corridor. Successive administrations promised to relocate us, but nothing happened until now,” he said.
He welcomed the completion of the supporting infrastructure, describing it as a major milestone towards relocating businesses to the new site.
Nweke, however, appealed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration to expedite the issuance of allocation letters, noting that beneficiaries would require legal documentation before moving to the new settlement.
“We are encouraged by what we have seen today. The infrastructure has given us confidence that the relocation process is nearing completion, but we still need the allocation documents before we can move,” he stated.
The relocation forms part of a broader urban development strategy by the Federal Capital Territory Administration aimed at improving city planning, easing congestion and providing purpose-built facilities for informal businesses.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Tinubu said the Wasa development reflects his administration’s commitment to expanding modern infrastructure across Abuja and creating an environment that supports economic growth.
Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the government would continue investing in quality infrastructure to transform Wasa into a modern commercial hub within the Federal Capital Territory.
He described Nigeria’s informal sector as a vital pillar of the national economy, providing livelihoods for millions of people and contributing significantly to economic activity.
