Lagos begins registration of parking space operators

• Warns against indiscriminate parking

Lagos State Government says the days of indiscriminate parking of vehicles around the streets in the metropolis are numbered.

General Manager of the recently created Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Adebisi Adelabu, said this, stressing that the agency was ready to start implementing the state’s parking policies developed aimed at averting disruption, reducing traffic congestion and ensure improved road safety.

She spoke at a parley with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday where she called on all park operators (commercial and non-commercial) to register with the agency for an operating permit from March 1, 2022.

According to her, the parking arrangement will come as on-street and off-street, explaining that the on-street parking to be coordinated by the agency will ensure people pay for the use of the road; while off-street involves private park operators.

Adelabu said the agency would be working with local governments and other stakeholders for the success of the new parking arrangements, just as she said multi-story car parks would be developed at appropriate locations.

Already, she said the programme to be executed in phases would start with five local government areas including Ikeja and Lagos Island as a pilot project.

She said roads for on-street parking would be marked and properly labelled.

Adelabu reeled out a number of actions constituting offences/violation of the parking policies in the state as parking of commercial vehicles on the street; blocking an entrance or exit and walkway; parking on slots marked for public transport, fire service, ambulance, taxis and people with special needs.

She stated that parking of vehicles on sidewalks, road median (paved or unpaved) and parking of vehicles within three metres of a fire hydrant as well as parking of vehicles against the directional flow of traffic are all now prohibited.

She appealed to all stakeholders including vehicle owners, event centre operators and religious organisations to adhere strictly to the laid down rules and regulations relating to parking.

“LASPA will achieve excellence in how Lagos State parking policies are envisioned, developed and in line with best global practices for a modern, efficient and sustainable managed parking system towards reducing congestion, disruption, improved road safety and changing travel behaviour,” she stated.

Earlier in his state, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said the creation of LASPA by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, became necessary to address the attitude of motorists parking indiscriminately on the roads and at undesignated bus stops.

He said parking space issue needed to be addressed to reduce travel time caused by traffic jam and make the state a 21st century-running economy.

According to him, the new Lagos State parking policy has been designed to decongest traffic, address climate change challenges, create job opportunities and generate revenue for the state through issuance of parking tickets to defaulters.

“We are looking at technology to change things. We have a five-year road map. We know that the future of parking is artificial intelligence. But we’re not there yet. We need data and data is power,” said the commissioner.