Lagos govt clarifies reports of imposing parking fees on churches, worshippers
By Jeffrey Agbo
Lagos State Government has reacted to reports that it will begin charging worshippers for parking around churches.
General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Adebisi Adelabu, in a statement on Sunday said the reports did not capture the agency’s intent adequately.
She said the state’s parking policy will affect all motorists who intend to utilise the newly created 1,800 parking slots of LASPA.
According to her, the parking policy is designed to mitigate parking-induced traffic congestion across the state.
Mrs Adelabu said the reports incorrectly stated that LASPA on Saturday announced it would from October 2024 charge churches and worshippers in Lagos who park vehicles on designated streets around places of worship.
She said, “To clarify the matter, LASPA wishes to emphasize that this information is inaccurate and does not reflect the true intent of our communication. The Lagos State government is not imposing parking fees on churches or worshippers for parking on streets around religious institutions. Rather, 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.
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“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 our 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. One of such correspondences was referenced in a news release making the rounds.
“It is important to clarify that no specific religious group is being singled out by this policy. Our aim is to ensure all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the implementation of the regulated on-street parking scheme.
“Additionally, 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.”