By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
The management of Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has said that some illegal private park operators have damaged the property used by the Authority in clamping vehicles and controlling indiscriminate parking.
General Manager of LASPA, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, said this on Wednesday during a monitoring and enforcement exercise in Marina, Lagos where she was represented by LASPA’s Director of Operations, Mr. Ayokunle Akinrimisi.
Adelabu expressed dismay at the actions of the operators, stressing
that they were operating illegally and that their action “would have a negative effect on Lagos residents who park their vehicles within their premises and give out their car keys to operators at owner’s risk.”
The General Manager explained that the Authority was saddled with the responsibility of regulating and managing all forms of parking and registering all existing private and public parks.
She said that in a bid to ensure a coordinated parking management system, LASPA had issued several warnings to car park owners to register with the authority and ensure proper operation of the business environment.
Adelabu promised that the activities of car park operators should be well structured to meet business requirements for the benefit of the populace.
She stated that the illegal private car park owners have taken laws into their hands by destroying the state government’s vehicle clamping tools.
The general manager said that government would not condone such act, and warned that the perpetrators would face the law.
She reiterated that the authority was working toward promoting parking policies tailored to suit the peculiarity of the state in line with modern international standards towards achieving a smart city.
“LASPA is empowered to remove all impediments arising from indiscriminate parking on roads and in car parks, improve the flow of traffic and reduce travel time,” Adelabu declared.
She called on Lagos residents not to patronise illegal car park operators, and urged them to support the authority’s agenda of improving the parking culture in the State.
The general manager urged anyone interested in car park business to register with the Lagos State Parking Authority and get a parking permit to operate.
During the monitoring and inspection, LASPA officials observed that illegal parkings on major roads are causing traffic congestion.
