The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday revealed that it will reintroduce On-Street Parking Policy in the nation’s capital, by 1st of May, 2021.
Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Acting Secretary, Transport Secretariat, Malam Usman Musa Yahaya hinted that the administration has backed the scheme up with adequate laws.
He gave this hint at a media briefing to herald the planned flag off of On-street Parking Policy in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the On- Street Parking Management was suspended on April 14, 2014 as a result of of an FCT High Court rolling that declared the operation illegal because it was not specifically mentioned in the 2005 FCT Road Transport Regulation.
Yahaya stated that; “Prior to the court judgement, the scheme was riddled with so much complexities. The operators were variously accused of many underhand activities ranging from unprincipled, dubious, deceitful, unprofessional and unscrupulous acts.
“It was based on these shortcomings that the Dentist Savings and loans limited challenged the power of the FCTA to impose levies on motorists that park their cars on FCT streets. Justice Peter Affen in his judgement commended the park and pay scheme which was introduced for the purpose of effective traffic management as laudable but ruled that the scheme was unknown to the FCT laws. He blamed the FCT authorities for not backing the scheme with adequate law.
“Investigations from both the authority and the public revealed that the activities of ticketing clerks contributed in no small way to the public disdain for the scheme. They were variously accused of intentionally making themselves unavailable when motorists want to obtain tickets but resurfaced as soon as the vehicle owner leaves the scene out of frustration of not seeing the clerks.
He continued; “Clamping and towing of vehicles became the order of the day. This, however, informed the jubilant reactions of the public when the Court suspended the scheme.
“In the past seven years, I the Administration had embarked on various measures aimed at addressing the concerns raised by the court and the public with regards to the scheme. Consequently, the Administration, in collaboration with an external Counsel produced a Federal Capital Territory Parking Regulations 2019 to amend the parking section of 2005 FCT Road Transport Regulations. This is to provide the required legal basis for the On-street Parking Management.
“The policy has been gazetted with the title: Federal Capital Territory Parking Regulations. With the new regulations, we are ready to hit the streets”, he explained.
He, however, assured the public that the licensed Operators who will be on the streets from 1st of May have turned a new leave and will serve the public well.
While adding that, as regulators they will be on their toes to ensure that the they operate according to the laid down rules and regulations.
The Acting Secretary hinted that the administration is going to organize training for personnel who are detailed to work under the scheme.
While adding that they are going to monitor the personnel to ensure that they don’t go back to the nefarious activities that lead to the initial problem that lead to the suspension.
