Abuja’s Park And Pay Policy Is Illegal – FCT Minister, Wike Declares

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, declared the On-street Parking scheme, popularly known as Park and Pay in the nation’s capital, Abuja as illegal.

Wike, who stated this during a live media chat in Abuja as part of activities marking his first year anniversary in office, specifically frowned at the sharing formula which is heavily skewed against the FCT Administration as the Consultant takes 80 percent of the proceeds, leaving 20 percent for the FCT Administration which constructed all the roads and streets.

The scheme was first introduced about a decade ago, but, later suspended as a result of public outcry and surprisingly, it was again reintroduced in August last year ahead of Wike assumption of office as FCT Minister.

In the words of Wike; “I was away, a colleague of mine, a friend of mine called me, he is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and said ‘sir, people came to our office now trying to hijack all our cars and that they said they were from the Transport Secretariat’.

“I said, what is that? I said give the person the phone. I said who are you and he said from Park and Pay. I said what do you mean by Park and Pay? I park in my house and I pay? I called the Mandate Secretary of Transport Secretariat. I said, come, who introduced the Park and Pay? What does it mean? Who collects the money?

“Unknown to us, there was an agreement between the Secretariat and some people who say they are consultants. Consultants? I said okay, consultant takes 80 percent and the government takes 20 percent? I said okay, where is this money paid into?

“I sent a draft a statement and called the Director, Press, to send out the statement that the public should be aware that there is nothing called Park and Pay.

“So, sometimes, these things are done in convince with the various Secretariats. I was a governor. So, I know that these things happen and we won’t deny that fact,” Wike explained.

The minister therefore tasked residents of the FCT always let the government know of happenings in their areas, adding that if his attention was not drawn to the illegal Park and Pay policy, he may not have known of its existence.