Park & Pay suspension: On Street Parking continues – Official

By Stanley Onyekwere

Just three days short of a month since the ban on Park and Pay scheme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by an Abuja High court, the Transportation Secretariat, of the FCT Administration has reiterated that Abuja’s On Street Parking continues in the Territory.

According to the Secretariat, the suspension of the scheme has not in any way affected the long implementation of On Street Parking Policy in the FCT.

Head, Public Relations, of the Secretariat, Ifeanyi Ughamadu, who disclosed this yesterday, in an interview with Peoples Daily, said the clarification became necessary following the wild jubilation that greeted the suspension of the scheme from motorists and their expectation of care free parking regime in the city.

It would be recalled that a ruling of an Abuja High court presided over by Justice Peter Affen, on the April 17, had declared illegal the operation of Park and Pay Scheme in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Ughamadu, however reminded motorists of the consequences of wrong parking on the FCT roads, urging them to adhere strictly to the long practiced On Street parking policy in the city, as part of the FCT Traffic Rules.

He added that violation of the policy will attract some payments (fines), between N10, 000 and N25, 000 or any other charges, if the vehicle is towed away by the enforcement arm of the FCT Transport Secretariat -Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).

“Any vehicle that is parked on the walkways, follower verges, drainage covers and or blocking the free traffic movements would be towed away and the vehicle owner will pay for the cost of the removal”

“For parking vehicles illegally on our walkway, drainage covers or flower verges, it will attract some payments (fines), if the vehicle is towed away by Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), the owner is to pay N 10, 000 before the vehicle is released.

“And if vehicles are parked on undesignated or illegal parks, and are towed away by VIO, the owners are to pay N25, 000, to collect their vehicles back.

“We have other charges for parking on bridges or any other illegal places, but the most important thing is that we condemn illegal and indiscriminate parking in the city.

“We have adequate markings on the roads; and they can accommodate all manner of parking in the city. So there is no need for anyone parking illegally on the road or other facilities- obstructing vehicular flow in the city,” he said.

The Secretariat therefore called on the motorists to adhere to the FCT Traffic Rules, so as to make the City a lively place to dwell in.