The General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, has refuted the allegation contained in a viral post on social media by one Nelly Agbogu, the owner of Healthy Foods and Snacks in Lekki Phase I, alleging that the Authority charged her the sum of N290,000 for parking in her compound.
Refuting the allegation, the General Manager of LASPA, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, described the claim as totally false, scandalous and inimical to the image of the Authority and the Lagos State Government (LSG).
She stressed that the said business outfit was duly charged for parking cars on the road setback, which by law belongs to the Government of Lagos State.
LASPA boss clarified that authority, through its staff or agent, does not issue Demand Notices on cars parked in any compound, except those parked on setbacks across the metropolis, which she said rightfully belongs to the Lagos State Government.
In her words:
“The Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has noticed the malicious publication on the social media about the state government’s tax regime. It is all sheer propaganda to undermine a good initiative of the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo- Olu Administration”.
“LASPA is an Agency established under the Lagos State Transport Reform Law, 2018, and Act of the State Assembly in 2019 to regulate and manage all forms of parking activities within the State by redesigning and restructuring the current parking culture and implement state-wide parking policies which will address the peculiarities of the State, while also adhering to International Parking Standards”.“For the avoidance of doubt a setback, for obvious reasons, is the space between the perimeter fencing and the walkway or the road, as the case may be.
“Whoever claims he/she owns a setback around his/her property will have to provide official documentation from a State Government authorised Ministry, Department and Agency showing the legal ownership of the said setback and the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) Certificate of the property to LASPA”.
While frowning at the deliberate malicious statement and falsehood by Nelly Agbogu, the General Manager reiterated that LASPA is saddled with the responsibility of promoting the Lagos State parking policies in line with national transport policies by advancing knowledge, raising standards and assessment of related fees.
It is important to set the records straight on the essence and functions of the Authority, which, amongst others, are to:
• Monitor all private and public parking facilities for compliance purposes;
• Charge fees on private commercial parks, non-commercial parks and other parking lots on any facility as identified by the Authority; and to
• Issue permit for development of private and public parking facilities.
The Authority upon commencement of Operations has employed several Lagosians, irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation.
The allegation that the State is using the Authority to raise campaign funds is reckless and mischievous. It is a fraudulent attempt to deceive the public and incite the people against the government.
Parking is a universal phenomenon; it is not a creation of the Lagos State Government.
The business entity that misinterpreted the Demand Notice from the Authority recently and posted erroneously on social media has since apologized to the Authority for misinforming the public.
