Court Rules On Abuja 'Park and Pay' Policy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the park and pay policy of the Abuja administration as illegal.

Justice Peter Affen of the Federal High Court, Apo, made the declaration on Thursday morning in a suit brought by a private savings and loan firm in the Nigerian capital.

The judge ordered the immediate stoppage of the 'park and pay' policy in the city centre.

It was reported recently how the Abuja administration hired four companies to collect parking fees from motorists around the city centre.

Motorists in Abuja had complained of extortion and fraud by the officials of these companies who clamp vehicle tyres, several times on dubious reasons, forcing motorists to pay thousands of naira to them. 

It could be recalled that the House of Representatives in March mandated its Committee on FCT to conduct a public hearing to investigate the process leading to the concession, award and operation of “Park and Pay Policy” in Abuja metropolis.

This followed a motion raised by Representative Bitrus Kaze who noted that the companies contracted to implement the policy do not maintain any infrastructure or provide professional services.

The lawmaker stressed that they only remit between 10 to 40 per cent of generated revenue while keeping 60 to 90 per cent to themselves.

Source: Legit.ng