FCT Gets New Parking System

Managing Director, Integrated Parking Services Limited (IPS), Mr Iliyasu Abdu,  has urged security agents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to comply with the new “Park and Pay” order.

Abdu, who made the appeal in an interview in Abuja said some security agents often failed to pay for parking in areas earmarked for payment.

“This should not be so because no one is above the law,’’ he said, stressing the need for all motorists to abide by the law.

Abdu said some groups which include drivers of hospital ambulances, police vehicles on patrol, school buses on school runs, and fire fighting vehicles were exempt from payment.

“We exempt all these categories of vehicles because they play vital roles that affect everyone in one way or the other, and we also do not collect money from some embassies because they do not request such payment from Nigeria Embassy vehicles in their countries.

“This initiative is to make Abuja better, sanitise the city, generate revenue for FCT, provide employment for the youths and discourage people from parking for too long by the side of the road.

According to him, the company is currently managing 10,000 parking lots in the city.

He advised vehicle owners to obtain valid tickets whenever they want to park in the areas to avoid embarrassment.

“We advised that when people buy a ticket they should place it on their dashboard to avoid their cars being clamped or towed to our office as it will attract the payment of fines by the offender.

“Anyone that violates the law is expected to pay N5,000 if his or her car is clamped, and N10, 000 if the vehicle is towed to our office for not responding quickly.”

He said that the company had recruited more than 500 youths for the exercise, adding that it would increase the number to 1,000 before end of this year.

“Our least-paid worker earns N30, 000 monthly and if he or she meets the target of clamping four cars daily and selling up to N10, 000 tickets daily, they may earn a higher salary for that month.’’

Abdu said that the company, established in February, had remitted more than N2 million to the FCT administration in its first two months of operations.