The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA, is upbeat in its determination to soar up the revenue of the territory. As part of plans to generate more revenue internally and not depend on federal government’s allocation to its developmental activities, the administration has concluded arrangement to introduce ‘on-the-street parking scheme’ for motorists in the territory. The scheme ensures that motorists park their vehicles at designated locations and pay certain amount of money depending on the length of time such vehicle is parked.
FCT  transportation secretary, Jonathan Achara Ivoke, who dropped this hint during the launch of the 2011 Safety Yuletide in the territory, said two zones of the city have already been mapped out while 5000 marked-parking-bays have been created in the first phase of the scheme. Other areas of the city, according to Ivoke, will follow thereafter.
 The project will be implemented through public private partnership, PPP. Already, two private companies, Integrated Parking System, IPS and Platinum Parking Management Service, PPMS, have been awarded the contract. The minister of the territory, Senator Bala Mohammed explained that the scheme will be run in accordance with world best practices with the installation of parking metres. He said the aim is to reduce traffic congestion in the centre, create jobs, enhance revenue generation and improve city aesthetics. “The commissioning of the facility in zones A and B marks the commencement of ‘pay and park’ in the city, as parking in those areas will no longer be free. This will reduce the influx of vehicles into the city centre, create employment for our teeming youths, encourage efficiency in public transport and improve revenue generation,” the minister said, noting that haphazard parking contributes to road traffic accidents and deprives pedestrians of their right-of-way.
The charges range from N50 to N650. The lowest fee of N50 is for motorists, who will spend only 30 minutes at the bay, while one hour attracts N100. For motorists who will park for 12 hours, the charge is N650, while five hours attracts N300.  Penalty for parking beyond the time paid for attracts N2, 000; N1, 000 will be charged for demurrage per day, while removal of the clamping attracts N5, 000. There will be no difference in the charges on the type of vehicles but any wrongly parked vehicle will be clamped and the owner penalised. 
Chief executive officer of Platinum Parking Management Service, Otunba Olusegun Olanrewaju told this magazine that although the world standard is five minutes, the company will grant a grace of 15 minutes for any vehicle parked beyond the time paid for. After this period, Olanrewaju said the vehicle will be clamped and towed to their office. The owner will cough out N10, 000 to recover his vehicle. Otunba Olanrewaju said their outfit is made up of three units – civil enforcement, clamping and parking. The civil enforcement officers will enforce the law, while the clamping officers will be responsible for the clamping and releasing of vehicles. Parking assistants will direct motorists on how and where to park.
On his part, chief operating officer of integrated parking system, Umar Kaltungu, believes that enough revenue would be generated from the project. He said an electronic swipe card pre-loaded with N500 would be purchased by drivers in any bank to enable them make payments at Point-of-Sale, POS terminals. Kaltungu revealed that parking hours are between 7a.m. and 7p.m. on work days; night parking and weekends are however free.
The scheme has been attracting mixed reactions from motorists. Caleb Ikhide, a businessman in Wuse Market, described the proposed scheme as ridiculous. He advised that more parking lots be created in the territory instead to forcing motorists to pay for parking their vehicles. A commercial driver, Musa Mustapha, said commercial drivers in Abuja have been paying levies on daily basis and should be spared from paying parking fees. “We pay levies daily to the Nigerian Union of Road Traffic Workers, NURTW and Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, so how do they want us to survive, how much will one take home?”
Gbenga Oni, who works with an insurance company, however, supported the idea as it would help decongest the road of vehicles, which he said is frustrating, especially during the day. “The fact that it is going to generate employment for the youth is another good one. I am totally in support of it but the penalties should not be too stringent.” Jackson Stone, a foreigner also welcomes the idea and said it exists in his country. Stone said it is a way for government to generate revenue for its developmental projects.