The park and pay regime introduced by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Sen. Bala Mohammed to curb traffic congestion in the city, may not meet its desired objectives, as motorists are decrying undue exploitation by operators .
The regime which is currently under experiment along major congested areas in the city is being concessioned to two operators to regulate the parking of cars on the streets of Abuja. The companies were to operate under stipulated monitory guidelines, strictly to charge motorists N50.00 for 30 minutes and N100.00 for one hour respectively.
Motorists who spent extra time were to be charged relatively to the minutes and hours spent. Penalties of N5000 was to be meted on those who out -rightly refused paying or over stayed.
Investigations have revealed that the entire process has been marred by series of controversies. Motorists who spoke to reporters alleged impunity on the side of the operators and connivance with staff of the Public Transport Unit of the FCDA to exploit motorists.
Ema Oke, narrated his woes to reporters said that on one instance, he paid for one hour but spent extra three minutes as he couldn’t finish his engagements, stating that his car was locked, and was ordered to go to the bank and pay N5000 as penalty
“All pleas by sympathizers and myself fell on deaf ears .I didn’t just have money and my car stayed for four days . I ended up paying N9000.
Another motorist, Steven Umoh said he parked his car and for about five minutes there was no park and pay staff in sight had to leave his car there to meet up his appointment. “I spent only 30 minutes.
My car was clamped, I had to borrow N5000 from a friend and go to the bank and pay to get my car. I think the staff sometimes intentionally hide from motorists not to see them so that they will clamp ones car, that way they make more money, “ he stressed .
