Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have reacted to the return of ‘park and pay’ policy, with a call on the stakeholders to execute the task with a human face.
This came on the premise that the policy had witnessed a series of issues with motorists in the city.
A motorist, Ochiaka Ugwu advised that the new scheme should be done with a human face and should not impoverish motorists, according to the Guardian.
He said: “I think the company has been engaging with stakeholders, even when they engaged the media, one thing was utmost in our mind, we said whatever they want to do should be considerate of the people because times are hard.
“I don’t know how far they have gone or how much they are going to collect from people but my opinion is that people should not be overtaxed so that at the end of the day, they will still have some money to meet other necessities of life.”
A private car owner, Linda Umo, admitted that it is a welcome development that could bring sanity to the FCT.
A taxi driver, Joshua Adedoyin, asked the FCT Administration to ensure that the scheme is corruption free.
However, a resident, Ene Onotu, wondered if the policy was right at this time.
“Nigerians are experiencing economic downturns and shouldn’t be disturbed with this. However, they should sensitise people on the policy, so that they will not fall victim. They should also mark out places they want people to park.
“To me, the major thing they should be doing now is how to curtail the excesses of the reckless taxi drivers in the FCT,” she added.
Meanwhile, the policy was first introduced in 2012, on selected major streets in Abuja, aimed at curtailing the rate of wrong parking in the city and ensuring better traffic flow.
Then, Abuja motorists were expected to pay fees ranging from N50 to N100 to park in designated parks from 30 minutes upwards and defaulters paid a penalty up to N5,000.
Some of these vehicles were locked which usually caused disagreement between motorists and the authorities.
Consequently, a private savings and loan firm dragged the Federal Government before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo.
Justice Peter Affen, in a ruling on April 14 2014, declared the park and pay policy of the Abuja administration illegal and ordered immediate stoppage of its implementation, adding that there is no law supporting the policy.
Again, on May 2015, the policy was stopped before its re-emergence was signed in August 6, 2023 where the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Olusade Adesola, who signed on behalf of the FCTA, said that the move was to promote a culture of orderliness and organisation in vehicle parking.
He explained that implementation would not commence immediately until residents were fully sensitised and enlightened about the scheme.
