Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that traders at the Apo Mechanic Village will be relocated to their permanent site in Wasa District before the end of 2026, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) also moves to introduce fresh restrictions on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles within parts of Abuja city.

Wike disclosed this on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.

He said infrastructure at the Wasa relocation site had already been completed, adding that the administration was working to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with trader associations to ensure government oversight of the facility before the relocation is finalised.

The minister explained that issuing Certificates of Occupancy directly to individual traders could limit government control over the site, making the proposed MoU necessary. He expressed confidence that outstanding issues with the traders would be resolved before the end of the year.

On land administration, Wike advised residents who acquired land through Area Councils to regularise their allocations with the FCTA, noting that the Supreme Court had affirmed that all land within the Federal Capital Territory falls under the authority of the administration.

He disclosed that thousands of Area Council land allocations had already been regularised, with beneficiaries receiving Certificates of Occupancy.

Wike also said the administration adopted a similar approach in resolving ownership disputes affecting homeowners in River Park Estate by issuing Certificates of Occupancy to protect legitimate property owners.

Speaking on infrastructure and urban renewal, the minister highlighted the remodelling of the Abuja City Gate and ongoing rural water supply projects as major achievements of the administration. He added that abandoned recreational facilities, including the Life Camp Recreation Centre and Jabi Lake Recreational Park, would be redeveloped through public-private partnerships.

According to him, developers handling the Jabi Lake project would be required to sign binding agreements with clearly defined timelines, warning that failure to commence or complete the project within the agreed period could result in the revocation of the land allocation.

The minister further stated that the FCTA would continue its policy of awarding only projects backed by available funding to reduce the incidence of abandoned contracts, while noting that strategic projects such as the Millennium Tower would require direct federal budgetary support for completion.

On security, Wike announced that the FCT Security Council had approved fresh restrictions on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in designated parts of the city centre.

He said security agencies had been directed to identify areas where the restrictions would apply, explaining that the decision was informed by security concerns rather than traffic management alone.

The minister added that security agencies would sustain operations against illegal settlements and criminal hideouts, including those around Karmajiji in the Kukwaba District.

He also disclosed that the administration had inaugurated a committee to address the growing problem of illegal car racing in residential areas, stressing that the government would not tolerate activities capable of endangering the lives of residents.

Wike appealed to residents to support ongoing urban renewal efforts by fulfilling their tax obligations, saying improved revenue generation remained essential for the delivery of infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.