The Traffic

FEATURE STORY: Wike Declares Abuja's Park and Pay Policy Illegal, Vows to Investigate

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

In a bold move, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared the On-street Parking scheme, commonly known as Park and Pay, illegal. This declaration was made during a live media chat on Wednesday, marking Wike's first anniversary in office.

The Park and Pay scheme, reintroduced in August last year, has been met with public outcry. Wike expressed concern over the unfair sharing formula, where the consultant takes 80% of the proceeds, leaving the FCT Administration with only 20%.

Wike recounted how he was alerted to the scheme by a friend and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who reported that individuals were attempting to hijack cars in the name of Park and Pay. Upon investigation, Wike discovered that the Transport Secretariat had entered into an agreement with consultants without his knowledge.

The minister has urged residents to continue reporting such incidents, stating that he may not have been aware of the policy's existence if it hadn't been brought to his attention. Wike's declaration and investigation into the Park and Pay scheme demonstrate his commitment to transparency and fairness in governance.