Kunle Awosiyan
Some Religious and Event Centres around Lagos are yet to comply with the Lagos vehicle parking law even when the state Government has threatened to clamp down on this irregularity by October.
Earlier this year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the introduction of regulated on-street parking, which was announced during a stakeholder’s forum held on February 14, 2024, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.
However, our correpondent went out at the weekend but observed that churches, mosques and event centres flagrantly broke the rules as their members and organisers had their cars parked on the roads instead of the designated marks.
At the NERDC Road, Central Business District Agidinbgi, Ikeja, our correspondent observed that hundreds of cars belonging to those attending event at the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT Pavilion were parked on the roads.
Also, scores of cars belonging to funseekers at the New Afrika Shrine were also parked on the roads.
Though the two places have parking spaces, it is inadequate for the numbers of visitors who visit the place every weekend.
As a matter of fact, street urchins have capitalised on this illegality to make quick money as they create space for car owners to park their vehicles on the road at a cost between N500 and N1000, depending on the duration of stay.
At night, it was gathered that some funseekers parked within the premises of the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council, NERDC to beat the state parking law.
At the Alausa Central Mosque on Makinde Street and Kafi street beside Ikeja City Mall (Shoprite), cars belonging to worshippers and funseekers respectively were parked on the road.
At Aina Street Ojodu, some vehicles belonging to worshippers at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Solid Rock Parish, parked their cars on the road due to inadequate space within the church premises.
Even though, the Ikeja City Mall has one of the biggest parking space around, our correspondent observed that cars parked outside the premises belonged to those operating UBER.
Parking on the road is illegal in Lagos and it comes with various penalties. For instance, abandoned vehicle on highway is fined N50.000 as cost of towing or six month imprisonment or both fine and imprisonment. Driving on the walkway or kerbs also attracts N50, 000 fine while parking on the walkway or kerbs attract N30,000.
Parking or stopping to pick passengers by a commercial vehicle on the highway attracts N30, 000 and driver training at the state Driving Institute.
When contacted, the General Manager of Lagos State Parking Authority, LASPA, Adebisi Adelabu said that government, in its effort to manage the traffic situation around religious and event centres, had created 1,800 parking slots.
According to her, the parking policy is designed to mitigate parking-induced traffic congestion across the state.
She said LASPA is implementing the Lagos State Parking Policy to mitigate parking-induced traffic congestion across the state.
“Like many other major cities worldwide facing similar challenges, Lagos is experiencing a high demand for parking spaces that exceeds the available supply. Therefore, we are adopting a regulated on-street parking model to better manage parking resources efficiently.
Earlier this year, the Governor approved the introduction of regulated on-street parking, which was announced during a stakeholder’s forum held on February 14, 2024, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.
As part of the government’s efforts to inform stakeholders, including religious organizations who were adequately represented at the forum, about the upcoming implementation in October, LASPA communicated with umbrella bodies representing these groups.
The aim is to ensure all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the implementation of the regulated on-street parking scheme.
Alebiosu said“Lagos State Government has designated and lane-marked suitable roads for on-street parking across major zones such as Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, creating approximately 1800 additional parking slots.
“The communication sent to religious institutions serves to notify them of their respective roles and the financial aspects of utilizing these designated parking lots. The management of these facilities will be overseen by concessionaires under the regulation of the Lagos State Parking Authority,”she said.
Reacting to NERDC being used as parking lot, a former facility manager of the place Mr. Tomilola Ololade, said that the enforcement of Lagos law has tuned many private property to potential car parks but that NERDC never condoned such when he was there.
He said government policy is not an excuse for anybody to illegally turn government facility to a parking lot for those who had come to nightclub.
(Afrika shrine)
Speaking to the Chairman of the NUT, Lagos council, Mr. Hassan Akintoye, the teachers’ leader described using the pavilion as a parking space for outsiders as illegal and totally unacceptable.
He said, “I must confess to you that I have an idea of it. We are planning to reorganise the outfit . It is indeed illegal.
However, a car owner, Mr. Dayo Adeyemi who worships at RCCG, Solid Rock Parish urged the government to create parking space in some strategic areas in Lagos. To him, government should try and provide parking facility before going after car owners.
He said, “I don’t drive to church sometimes because of this issue of space. I think the government can make more money by establishing car parks in some strategic locations than imposing taxes on defaulters.