Why it Writes Churches, Mosques; CAN Chairman Reacts
The Lagos State government has explained his message to bill owners of vehicles parked on some designated streets in the state.
Earlier, the state government has announced to be charging vehicle owners who park on some designated streets in the state.
It was announced that the on-street parking regulation will commence in October this year in Lekki, Surulere and some other areas.
To this effect, the state government has been writing religious bodies, including churches and mosques, organisations and event centres to notify them of the commencement of the on-street parking charges.
The government, in a letter directed to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, as made available to PTL News, The Christian Newspaper, informed the body that vehicles parked by the church and members on designated streets will be charged hourly, while indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced accordingly.
Dated July 19 and signed by the Head of Operations of Lagos State Parking Authority, Ayokunle Akinrinmisi, the letter read, “I am directed to inform your revered organisation that LASPA will be commencing its on-street parking scheme at designated streets within the Lagos State metropolis.
“In view of this, I am using this medium to inform your eminence, that vehicles parked on designated streets by the church and its members, will be charged hourly and indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced upon accordingly.
“Consequently, we advise that this piece of information be adhered to as a law-abiding organisation.”
Speaking with newsmen, the General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority, Adebisi Adelabu, confirmed that a pilot programme of the on-street parking scheme would commence in October.
She said, “In 2022, we held meetings with Christian associations, Muslim associations, nightclubs, event centres and others. We told them that we were starting with set-back and progressing to on-street parking.
“Lagos is a city of over 25 million people and we have over three million vehicles, we must have proper parking management, so they have been sensitized.”
However, some people have misconstrued the intention of the state government as they alleged that the scheme was targeted to victimise some churches and religion in the state.
The government in its reaction insisted that the parking policy was designed to mitigate parking-induced traffic congestion across the state, and denied reports suggesting that worshippers will be charged for parking around churches.
The government debunked the claims in a statement on Sunday by the General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu.
She said the state’s parking policy will affect all motorists who intend to utilise the newly created 1,800 parking slots of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA).
According to her, the parking policy is designed to mitigate parking-induced traffic congestion across the state.
The statement read, “the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has noted with concern a recent social media post regarding parking charges for churches and worshippers in Lagos State,”
The post incorrectly stated that “Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) on Saturday announced it will from October 2024 charge churches and worshippers in Lagos state, who parked vehicles on designated streets around places of worship’.
“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.
“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.”
CAN Chairman Reacts, calls for restraint
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop STV Adegbite has reacted to the order calling for payments on vehicles parked on some designated roads in the state.
In a letter made available to PTL News, the Chairman, through Bishop Taiwo Adegbite, explained that the State CAN is on top of the situation concerning the letter on Street Parking written to the State PFN by LASPA.
The State CAN Chairman, His Lordship, Bishop STV Ajose, Special Adviser (General Duties) to the State CAN Chairman and State Director, DPG, PFN Lagos State, mentioned Bishop Adegbite “(who is currently outside the country) has called for restraint, calm and decorum at this time.”
The statement further read, “I have been in meetings with the SA (Christian) to Mr. Governor, who has also contacted the leadership of the Agency and had fruitful conversation with them. I made it known to them that this law and subsequent directives concerning parking by churches is not a PFN matter alone.
“It was revealed that when this matter first came up, some PFN leaders went to meet with the leadership of the Agency to discuss the matter and that’s why PFN was written to in continuation of the previous discussions.
“I made it known that if the Church in Lagos State has to be addressed, it should be through the State CAN so that we can have a holistic conversation, then CAN with all the blocs shall present a unified resolution.
“Also, I proposed that if this regulation has to be enforced, Sunday must be left out of the narrative as this may cause religious and social issues.
“Consequently, my candid advice is that PFN should allow the State CAN to handle this matter on behalf of the Church and that no PFN leader should make any overture to the Agency while the State CAN and the office of the Special Adviser (Christian) are engaging the Agency.”
Also reacting Apostle Bolaji Akinyemi, a faith based social crusader and activist responded,
…The letter from Lagos State newly invented ‘Parking and Persecution Agency’ was dated 19th July 2024, it was probably written after the Jumat Service of that day, held in Mosques across the State many of which had no provision for a car park but who in superiority of religion took over roads of importance to the economy of Lagos as an extension of their mosques. They are not as timid as the Pentecostals who are parking in orderliness to allow other citizens passage. Most mosques in Lagos closed the road that day during their Jumat depriving other citizens passage, sometimes even pedestrians are forced to use alternative routes! He asked, “What is the sin of the Pentecostals?”
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