A controversy has erupted over the demand for a N300,000 payment from artisans and traders in Abuja’s Apo Mechanic Village, who are being relocated to a new site in Wasa.
The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Felix Obuah, clarified that the N300,000 sum was a non-refundable fee for land registration. However, some traders alleged that union leaders were charging them up to N1m for the relocation form.
Mr. Obuah warned that security agents would arrest anyone found to be falsely allocating lands to unsuspecting traders. He also disclosed that over 11,000 individuals had registered for the relocation exercise, which is expected to be concluded by the end of the month.
The relocation exercise has been marred by controversy, with some traders accusing government officials of allocating the new shops to themselves and their associates. However, Mr. Obuah denied these allegations, stating that the allocation process would be transparent.
The Apo Mechanic Village relocation exercise has been ongoing for several years, with the aim of decongesting the area and providing better facilities for the traders. However, the controversy surrounding the N300,000 payment demand has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the relocation process.
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