Reactions have continued to trail the recently re-introduced park and pay policy scheduled to begin in March in Abuja City Centre. ELEOJO IDACHABA in this report wonders who benefits from the policy.
Exactly nine years ago, the policy introduced earlier was jettisoned because of the obvious constitutional flaws. That re-branded policy now being brandished is what is commonly referred to as Park N Pay in Abuja City Centre. Under the policy, car owners are obligated to part with a certain amount of money in order to park their cars in designated parking areas.
The policy officially known as On-Street Parking Management in the Federal Capital City whose trial exercise is ongoing until January 31 before the full implementation commences in the first quarter of the year, is already generating furore among residents.
While announcing the re-introduced policy, the FCTA director of traffic management, Wadata Bodinga, said it is aimed at bringing sanity into the city and also address disturbing traffic congestions. The first phase, he said, would commence in areas like Maitama and Wuse at no cost to vehicle owners but with a human face.
“The public is hereby assured of excellent service delivery by the operators while maintenance of orderliness in the parking regime in the territory remains the ultimate goal. With the present state of FCT traffic irregularities which pose a great hazard towards road users, the reintroduction of the On-street Parking Scheme by the administration would mitigate those challenges to the barest minimum.
“While the On-street Parking Scheme may seem overbearing for some users, the scheme impacts positively on residents in economic activities through improving customer experience and promoting an efficient parking management system,” he had said.
Opinions differ
Despite this cheering assurance, there are diversities of opinions regarding the reintroduction, timing and its desirability or otherwise.
In a chat with Blueprint Weekend on the matter, while many appreciated the policy, others repudiated it saying it is a misplaced policy aimed at causing more difficulties for residents.
According to Mrs. Yinka Quadri, a shop owner in Utako district, what are the benefits residents stand to get from the policy after it was flawed in the past?
She said, “I was here way back between 2012 and 2014 when the policy was in force. Within the period it lasted, I’m not sure anyone can attest to the benefit it brought to bear on residents because rather than the sanity, in some places, there were brazen fisticuffs between car owners and fees collectors. I say this because oftentimes in Nigeria, for want of people-centric policies, government officials come up with programmes that would not add any cubit to the livelihood of the people. I have been expecting to read where the Transport Secretariat would explain the anticipated benefits of this policy for residents; this is apart from what they said is the orderliness which can be achieved without attracting any parking fee anyway. I recall that litigation drove the former policy aground; I won’t be surprised if this latest policy has received the blessings of residents before it’s coming from the backyard. In Nigeria, we copy everything from overseas without studying the details. In other climes where it works, no one needs to question it, but in our clime selfishness drives such policies.”
Speaking in the same vein, a lawyer, Brendo Terga, simply asked, “Is this a disguised taxation? If the authority wants to maintain orderliness, do they have to impose amounts on car owners? Why does this government derive joy in needless taxes when people cannot see the essence of the tax? Now, as a car owner who works in the city, but lives in a satellite town, you are tempted to pick passengers on your way in and out of the city to augment expenses, but must remit some amounts to ‘touts’ posing as NURTW representatives. I’m aware that these touts are in every corner of the city collecting rates for their pay masters, but nobody has asked the question where the money goes to. Draw the attention of any nearby policeman to the menace and you would be confronted with reactions that would shock you. These touts are prepared for a showdown with you on refusal to cooperate with them, but security agents would look the other way. Now, when eventually you pay your way through to get to your destination within the city, you must pay again for parking. Please tell this government to be kind to the people.”
For John Henry, a journalist, the policy needs further publicity in order to command acceptance in view of how public policies have been abused in the past.
“The only way I can take this policy seriously is when the receipts to be issued are printed with all security features embedded in them, otherwise you and I know that some people just want to create a pipe for themselves. But if, for example, like payments for passports, drivers licence and other security-fitted documents that are paid in the bank into government coffers, the receipts to be issued for park and pay are security-fitted, I will believe them otherwise forget whatever they are saying. Anybody can print the receipts and issue, divert the money into assigned accounts and nobody will ask any question. So, for me, it’s an unworkable policy in view of our wrong attitude to proper accountability,” he said.
A broadcast journalist who simply goes by the name Ijeoma said as much as orderliness is the reason for the policy, it’s a good development, but wondered why the government cannot provide orderliness without asking for a fee.
She said, “I recall the government talking about generating employment for young Nigerians through the NDE for which the National Assembly appropriated for it. Is the policy dead? Can’t those young people be used to ensuring order without asking car owners to pay a parking fee which certainly is not going into the right coffers, no matter what they say? I think for every Nigerian already gasping for breath due to the unpleasant economic policies in the country, it would amount to inflicting further pains on them. By the way, what can an ordinary Nigerian regard as democracy dividends?”
Different strokes…
While many found fault with the return of this policy, for others, it is a good development. Mr. Dada Anzaku, a senior civil servant resident in a high-brow Area 2 in Garki District, told Blueprint Weekend that in many countries with proper transport plans, it comes with a responsibility.
“Whatever is given for free can never be appreciated and that is why it doesn’t last. In Area 2, very close to the Corner Shop, it’s already difficult for residents to drive out owing to the way visitors to the corner shops, library and nearby offices park their vehicles. We have complained to the VIO office in Area 1 to station their men around the place, but because they cannot be there all day, indiscriminate parking is still the order of the day. Thank God the park and pay policy starts in March. At least, there would be sanity by the time it starts. Let’s not be quick to dismiss the intention of the government. I agree that there could be abuse, but beyond the abuse, sanity would be restored to some places like here; just that in Nigeria, people don’t allow good policies to be.”
Skewed remittances
A tax administration consultant, Adeluyusi Adegbangbo, said from the beginning, it’s important to state clearly where this fee would be remitted to.
“Experiences have shown that by the time money starts rolling in, that is when some persons would come out to state that they were the consultants that worked out the modalities; therefore, should share in the remittances. It is important the FCT Transport Secretariat comes out to explain how the expected revenue would be expended, who takes what, how much the fees collectors are to be paid and how much goes to the government in percentages. If all of these are not clearly worked out from the beginning, I’m afraid, when revenues start rolling in, there may be a crisis. It is for this reason the authorities need to put to bare all the parties involved from the inception,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, “Remember that when the policy was announced, it was stated that the reintroduction is coming out after all shades of opinions were considered. The extent of involvement of every stakeholder in this policy should be clearly outlined because you and I know that to a large extent, the government alone cannot drive this. The private sector is very much involved.”
It would be recalled that the former park and pay policy introduced nine years ago was set aside in 2014 in a judgement by Justice Peter Affen who held that although the policy might be excellent, it lacked the enabling law. As it is today, it’s still not clear if those grey areas have been addressed before that policy is coming up again.
