Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has said it introduced parking levy to regulate and sanitise parking culture within the metropolis, and not to generate revenue for the government.
There was controversy after a letter surfaced in the social media, purportedly from LASPA office, asking a Lekki-based firm to pay N290,000 for using the set back outside its premises as a parking lot.
Commissioner for Transport Frederic Oladeinde, his Information and Strategy counterpart Gbenga Omotoso and General Manager of LASPA Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu made the clarification yesterday at a news conference to sensitise stakeholders and the public on the mandate and activities of the agency.
Oladeinde said: “Contrary to the erroneous claims of certain individuals and groups, LASPA has the power, by law, to collect park levies. LASPA was created to find lasting solution to indiscriminate and illegal parking across the state. This will aid prompt reduction of gridlock experienced by everyone.
“We, thus, urge residents to cooperate with the agency and other stakeholders in carrying out its laudable mandate. The agency was established, among others, to promote parking policies tailored to suit the peculiarity of the state in line with modern international standards towards achieving a smart city.
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“LASPA is also empowered to remove impediments arising from indiscriminate parking on carriageways, thereby increasing the carriageway capacity on the roads, improving the flow of traffic and reducing travel time.
“First on our mandate is to improve the parking culture. We also believe that the establishment of the authority also enables employment opportunities for the youth. In doing so, it is expected that revenue generation will come naturally, which will also be used to provide basic infrastructure in the state. We have the mandate to charge fees on private commercial parks, non-commercial parks and other parking lots on any facility provided by the authority.
“Most private commercial parks charge between N500 and N1,000 per hour, and each person can make up to four stops, which sums up to N2,000 or N4,000 daily. At the end of the year, the park owner makes over N182,500 or N365,000, if charges is per hour, or gain N730,000 or N1,460,000 for four stopovers.
“LASPA levy of N80,000, divided by the number of days in a year, totals N219 only, as against the charges of commercial park owners. The difference is clear as the government is quite considerate and responsive in making the environment conducive for all.
“Being a government that respects the constitution as the sole source of its engagement with the public, the state government will never resort to any unconstitutional means in its dealing with the people.”
The commissioner urged interested and concerned persons to reach the agency via: Facebook:Laspa Mot, Twitter:@laspa_mot, Instagram: laspa_lagos and email: enquiries@laspa.lg.gov.ng as well as visit the website on www.laspa.lg.gov.ng.