AICL launches automated entry system to curb revenue leakages at Garki market  

The Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) has launched an upgraded automated gate access control system at the Garki International Market, in a move to curb revenue leakages, tighten security and modernise operations within one of the Federal Capital Territory’s busiest commercial hubs.

Commissioning the project on Wednesday in Abuja, Maureen Tamuno, AICL’s Group Managing Director, said that the initiative is more than an infrastructure, but a bold shift toward efficiency, transparency and accountability in market administration.

As the investment and business arm of the FCT Administration, she reiterated that AICL’s mandate is to create sustainable value, enhance commercial assets and position Abuja as a competitive investment destination.

Read also: Mohammed pardons 73 inmates in Bauchi

The new system replaces manual cash collection with a secure, technology-driven platform powered by automatic number plate recognition cameras, barrier gates, handheld POS devices and a centralised real-time monitoring dashboard.

Deployed in partnership with Global Software and Digital Solutions Limited (GSDS), the solution integrates vehicle entry automation, ticketing, digital payment processing and centralised reporting across all entry and exit points.

According to Tamuno, the platform digitally records every vehicle entry, duration of stay and payment, effectively eliminating revenue leakages while strengthening transparency and accountability.

Beyond revenue protection, the system is designed to enhance security through controlled access, improve traffic management and reduce congestion within the market.

“This project is for you. It is designed to protect your businesses, safeguard your customers and enhance the overall commercial experience. We’re trying to ensure that we block leakages, we make sure that things are done properly, and that is what this whole system is all about.

“It will also ensure every vehicle entry, duration, and payment is digitally recorded, eliminating, like I said, leakages and improving accountability. This will enhance security through controlled access and monitoring, improve traffic management, and of course reduce congestion,” she added

She aligned the initiative with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the reform drive of the FCT Administration under Nyesom Wike, describing it as part of a broader push to digitise public infrastructure and improve ease of doing business in the capital.

Also speaking, Abiodun Akabi, Chief Investment Officer of AICL, noted that the project is the first of its kind within the FCT’s market system and signals a renewed focus on technology-driven operations.

Read also: From finance back to budget planning, Uzoka-Anite’s third federal appointment in three years

Pushkar Nanda, GSDS Vice-President of Sales and Operations, added that the system leverages innovative number plate recognition and QR code-based entry and exit processes to guarantee full accountability and an improved user experience.

Representatives of the Market Traders Association also welcomed the development, describing it as a milestone that reinforces the market’s status as one of Abuja’s foremost international trading centres.

The automated gate system is expected to serve as a template for other markets across the FCT as authorities intensify efforts to modernise infrastructure, boost internally generated revenue and strengthen governance through digital transformation.