Park & Pay ban: FCT residents react

Someone posted a picture of his tyre locked simply because one tyre was on the elevated demarcation between the sidewalk and the road. That I found ridiculous but they did things like that.There was a level of organisation with drivers and parking their cars. Hopefully, things won’t go back to what they were because they […]

Someone posted a picture of his tyre locked simply because one tyre was on the elevated demarcation between the sidewalk and the road. That I found ridiculous but they did things like that.
There was a level of organisation with drivers and parking their cars. Hopefully, things won’t go back to what they were because they are no longer in operations.
Friday Igwe, taxi driver: In fact, I cannot tell you how happy I am. Before if we parked under the tree whether we were seated in the car or not, our tyres would be locked. If someone parked and one tyre rested on any part of the curb, the tyre would be clamped. It was just ridiculous.
I guess the government decided to come to our aid and free us from their wickedness because it must have touched one of them.
They were just crooks. If you begged them enough, they would let you go after you paid five thousand naira. There was no uniformity in their activities. The only unfortunate thing about their ban is that many more unemployed people will be roaming the streets. But it is better than foe the suffering they were putting Nigerians through.
David Attah, businessman: It is such a relief that they no longer operate and I hope it will be permanent because they were criminals. I’d say I prefer to live with the devil than with those people.
Just the Monday before they were suspended, I went to abank in Garki Area 8 when a bank customer drove and parked in front of the bank. As he stepped out looking for the boy to pay, the boy went to hide. I stood watching the drama. The man got tired of waiting and went inside the bank.
Just then the boy emerged and alerted his colleagues to come and clamp the tyre. Just in time I confronted him and replayed to him what he had done. He got very angry and began asking what my business was. This drew a crowd and the owner of the car was alerted and the issue resolved.
Another time, I paid 50 naira before I went into a shop to buy something. I was in for about ten or fifteen minutes. By the time I came out my car had been clamped, even with the ticket they had issued in my hand. They insisted I had to pay fifteen thousand which I had to.
Their activities were so fraudulent. In different parts of Wuse there were different companies. When you buy a card thinking it covers you in Wuse, you’ll go to another end and find something different from there. Their ban is a good riddance to bad rubbish.
Omore Orifa, development communicator: I don’t think suspending them is the right way to go. I would rather suggest that there should be more control and monitoring of their activities. They did well by organising and bringing a reasonable sense of sanity into the way drivers parked their cars on streets especially those narrow ones.
It was not organised right from the company that it was contracted to. The workers were paid peanuts so the excitement to perform their duties was at zero per cent. There was also no accountability. If for instance a booklet contains hundred vouchers, it’s expected that the duration a motorist packs his or her car is the amount should tally with the number of vouchers sold for d day. They collect pockets most and most of what is collected is unaccounted for and unverifiable. Most of the collectors make exemptions for some motorists just because of the tips or bribes they are expecting to receive.
Most of them were not courteous and didn’t have any sense of customer service. In Nigeria anything goes and it is the masses who usually bear the brunt.
The suspension will make people lose their source of livelihoods and this will then be another worry for the nation. I also imagine without them the indiscriminate parking will return.
Chide Adama, student: Personally, I haven’t had any experience with them because I do not drive. But I get to hear on radio several complains about Park and Pay.
My take is, if people will be treated unjustly because of Park and Pay then the suspension is in order. The other day, I asked someone and he told me the payment is done on de spot and sometimes people pay as much as three thousand naira. If that is true then the concept of Park and Pay is just a waste of people’s time and money. In that case the current ban is a welcome development.
Suleiman Haruna, civil servant: In a 21st Century city like Abuja, Park and Pay is an absolute necessity. The city had started developing the discipline associated with parking of vehicles and motorists are getting used to paying the charges.
I don’t know the rationale for the cancellation but it will take us back to the indiscipline of indiscriminate parking.
In my view there is nothing to be jubilant about over this development. How does the FCT generate enough revenue to maintain the city? Tomorrow, somebody will go to court to stop the payment of ordinary taxes.