Philip Nyam 
…Demand Details of Contract, Concession
The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has faulted the park and pay introduced by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in the capital city.
The Chairman of the Committee, Muktar Betara who made this known at an interactive session with the FCTA Transport Secretariat demanded details on how the park and pay arrangement was established, who authorised it, and how remittances are made to the coffers of the FCDA.
The chairman queried the mandate secretary about the contract process. “How was the contract established? In appointing your concessionaires, what procedure did you follow? How much has been remitted to the FCDA from January to date Who gave you the approval” Betara asked.
He also criticised the FCDA for allocating 60 per cent of revenue to concessionaires while the government receives only 40 per cent, demanding clarification on what infrastructure the concessionaires are providing.
“The way they (concessionaires) operate in Abuja, they harass people on the streets. I would have advised you people to have given the VIO this concessionaire. Let them take up this so that the whole revenue would go to FCT. Why are you personalising this for an individual,” Betara said.
FCTA reintroduced the park and pay policy into the nation’s capital in August 2023, after signing an agreement with two concessionaires. The policy was aimed at decongesting the city and making motoring a more pleasant experience.
The policy was suspended in April 2014 after a high court judgement stopped the FCTA from collecting fees from residents for on-and-off-street parking within the metropolis. The court ruled that the policy was not backed by law.
Responding, the Transportation Secretariat Mandate Secretary, Chinedum Elechi said the policy is regulated and supported by a legal framework and that only designated areas serve as parking zones.
He said “The park and pay is by regulation. We have a legal framework. It is part of the ways of controlling traffic. So, under the part and pay, designated areas are meant to be parks. So, it is legal.
“There is usually a ratio between the concessionaires and the FCT. So, for areas where we have the concessionaires, there is a percentage that goes to the concessionaires. It is 60 percent and 40 percent goes to FCT. The infrastructure for the work is usually provided by the concessionaire. It (revenue) goes straight to the revenue account of the FCT, not transportation.”
He explained that the concessionaire is responsible for marking roads. However, the committee chair countered, asserting that no roads in Abuja have been marked by the concessionaire.
Also speaking, Hussaina Olayemi, the Director of Legal Services of the Transport Secretariat, explained that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Abuja Investment Company (AIC), the FCT organisation responsible for public-private partnerships, were involved.
“After their involvement, the concession was submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval. So, we have the FEC approval,” Olayemi stated.
The committee demanded a comprehensive report detailing the total budget and expenditures for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 to facilitate proper scrutiny and oversight.
The mandate secretary is also expected to bring a copy of the agreement with the concessionaires and details of the remittances received from January to date.
