Mixed feelings trail return of “park and pay” policy to FCT

Some FCT residents have expressed divergent views over the proposed re-introduction of ‘park and pay’ by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Some of the residents in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja expressed their support while others were against the policy. NAN reports that this policy has […]

Some FCT residents have expressed divergent views over the proposed re-introduction of ‘park and pay’ by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Some of the residents in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja expressed their support while others were against the policy.

NAN reports that this policy has been in place until it was abolished in 2014, following an FCT High Court ruling describing the policy as illegal.

However, AMAC had concluded arrangement to re-introduce the banned park and pay policy to augment the shortfall in federal allocation to the council and boost its revenue generation.

The policy allow residents to park their cars at some designated place and pay a sum depending on the numbers of minutes or hours spent.

Dr Rowland Adebisi, a Civil Engineer, said, “The idea of reintroducing the park and pay is a welcome development, this will also serve as a means of generating revenue for the council to provide more infrastructure, if properly managed’.”

Justina Umeadi, a civil Servant, said park and pay “will help to check the way and manner some people park their vehicles indiscriminately.’’

Another resident, Stella Adams, called it another form of double taxation.

“FCT should look at other means of generating revenue. The government is supposed to provide car parks at strategic places in the city for people to park their cars; you do not expect them to carry their cars on their head.

“If car parks are provided and people still park their cars in wrong places then you can charge them for illegal parking,’’ she said.

 

Also, Peter Adoyi, a resident, said, “The government should initiate programmes that will improve the living standard of citizens and not policy that will add to the hardship of citizens,’’ he said.

(NAN)