AMMC—Apo Traders’ Meeting Deadlock

By: Wisdom Acka, Gabriel Obiahu & Amina Sani

There was no headway in a meeting convened by Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Felix Obuah, to resolve the lingering issue of land for relocation of Apo Traders Associations (ATAS).

Obuah called the meeting, Friday, in his office as a fact-finding mission with a view to resolution, following the protracted issue of relocation to permanent site earmarked for the traders.

Trouble started when multiple unions and individuals appeared with numerous claims and counter claims.

The meeting, which almost turned into physical fisticuffs, if not for the resolute manner the Coordinator abruptly ended proceedings as the multiple Associations accused each other of appearing before the panel with fake documents.

Recall that some of the factions of the Associations had on Thursday blocked the FCT Minister’s gate at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja, but were later dispersed after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had told the protesters to follow due process in addressing the matter.

Some of the Apo Traders’ Associations have been agitating for allocation of land for the permanent site and provision of basic infrastructure before they could vacate the road corridors to pave way for ongoing dual carriage way project.

Obuah, who expressed displeasure over the multiplication of Associations, disunity and in-fighting among the traders, warned that government would neither deal with illegal organisations, nor allocate land to the groups, without a united front.

According to him, every illegal structure standing on the right of way of the ongoing road project woul be removed.

The Coordinator, however, advised them to go and put their house in order; warning that all the documents the groups were churning in may not be competent to earn them government attention.

Some of the factional leaders, who spoke at the meeting, included Chimezie Ifeh and Michael Ndubisi, who claimed to be leaders of Apo Traders Associations and Apo Mechanic Village, respectively.

Ifeh accused other leaders of the traders of ulterior motives aimed at hijacking the land allocation meant for traders affected by the road construction.

Ndubisi argued that many of the people posing as representatives of the traders were out to undermine the interests of larger members of the groups.