FCTA reintroduces park and pay policy, targets N27bn revenue in 10 years

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reintroduced the park and pay policy into the nation’s capital, Abuja after signing an agreement with two concessionaires. 

Olusade Adesola, FCTA permanent secretary, who signed the agreement on Saturday, said the move was to promote a culture of orderliness and organisation in vehicle parking in Abuja.

According to Adeola, the initiative will decongest the city and make motoring a more pleasant experience.

The policy was suspended in April 2014 after a high court judgement stopped the FCTA from collecting fees from residents for on-and-off the street parking within the metropolis. The court added that the policy was not backed by law.

The permanent secretary said, with the re-introduction, the FCTA has put a regulation in place and secured the approval of the federal executive council (FEC) to ensure a smooth implementation of the scheme.

Adesola added that under the scheme, parking lots would be provided for vehicle owners for a fee, while motorists that indulge in wrong packing would be fined.

He said all wrong and rights charges would be consolidated and shared between the administration and the six area councils.

“So, while the agreement is being signed today, the commencement of the park and pay is not starting today,” Adesola said.

“The communication that should precede the implementation of the project is that the citizens need to know that we are signing on-street parking.

“A lot of activities will follow. There will be robust stakeholders’ engagement; the operators will visit key institutions and will engage residents through electronic and print media.

“This is to ensure that people are sensitised and above all, to be aware that there will be a period of free parking, just for people to know how to use the facility.”

Towards the end of former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in May, the FEC granted approval for the revival of the street parking scheme in Abuja.

Under the scheme, two concessionaires, NAJEC Limited and Automaten Technik Bauman Nig. Ltd (ATB), would undertake the park and pay policy in two zones in the FCT.

While NAJEC Limited will cover Zone A comprising Wuse II and Utako with expected revenue of N11.875 billion in a period of 10 years, Automaten Technik Bauman Nig. Ltd (ATB) will take Zone B, which includes Maitama and Garki.

Automaten Technik Bauman Nig. Ltd (ATB) expected revenue over the same period is N15.05 billion.

TheCable understands the concessionaires have already marked the areas allocated to them in preparation for the enforcement of the scheme.