THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), at it’s meeting on Wednesday, May 17, approved the reintroduction of the ‘Park and Pay’ policy in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The policy imposes fees on motorists for parking their vehicles in specific locations or streets within the FCT metropolis.
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Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed announced the approval of the policy after the meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In January, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced plans to reintroduce the Park and Pay policy, which existed in the FCT until 2014, when a court ruling declared it illegal.
Director of Traffic Management, FCTA, Wadata Bodinga said the policy was being introduced to address traffic challenges being recorded within the territory.
He added that an increase in the FCT’s population was exposing residents to certain hazards arising from increased competition for parking spaces traffic congestion and destruction of public facilities, including walk ways.
“With the present state of traffic irregularities in the FCT which poses great hazards for road users, the reintroduction of the on-street parking scheme by the administration will mitigate these challenges to the barest.
“While on-street parking scheme may seem overbearing for some users, the scheme impacts positively on FCT residents and economic activities through improving customer experience and promoting efficient park management system,” Bodinga said.
Before it’s suspension in 2014, residents of the FCT had kicked against the policy due to the high-handed manner it was enforced.
There were allegations of extortion and harassment by operators of the policy and the enforcement agents.
As a result, some residents approached a High Court in the FCT to challenge the policy. In a ruling that took over an hour, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Affen, held that the policy lacked legal backing.
However, the Senate passed a bill seeking the establishment of road traffic and motor vehicle administration service, which would allow for parking fees and laws in the FCT.