Obviously goaded by nothing but revenue motive, the Lagos State government has on Friday notified churches that it will commence its controversial on-street parking scheme. The scheme is meant to allow the government charge vehicles parked on designated streets hourly.
A notice by the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), dated July 19 and signed by its head of operations, Ayokunle Akinrimisi, said the directive would take effect in October.
The notice, addressed to the branch chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), said measures would also be taken against cars parked indiscriminately.
It reads: “I am directed to inform your revered organisation that the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) will be commencing its on-street parking scheme at designated streets within the Lagos State metropolis.”
“In view of this, I am using this medium to inform your eminence that vehicles parked on designated streets by the church and its members will be charged hourly and indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced upon accordingly.”
LASPA advised that the directive “be adhered to as a law-abiding organisation.”
However, the agency did not disclose the actual fee to be charged.
Sometime in 2023, officials of LASPA caused serious uproar in the public space with their high handed clamping of vehicles of innocent people parked in front of especially commercial buildings in the state. This must have at that time led to the silent suspension of the initiative until Friday’s notice of its revival come October.
