The Lagos state government has said that it would commence a new parking tax policy for residents of the state in the second quarter of 2023.
The new tax policy would commence in phases, starting from Ikeja, Lagos Island and Surulere areas of the state.
The general manager of Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Adebisi Adelabu, disclosed this on Thursday, October 27.
According to Adelabu , the new tax levy would affect religious places, event centres, streets, houses on setbacks and other public places.
She added that the agency was partnering with private investors as concessionaires to ensure the effectiveness of the new regime, adding that the agency was working with major stakeholders in the state to publicise the new tax levy.
Adelabu explained that the state government intended to commence the scheme earlier in the year, but its interactions with the public delayed its commencement date.
She, however, confirmed that there was no going back on the commencement of the new levy in the second quarter of 2023.
The LASPA boss also explained that the primary aim of the scheme was not for revenue generation as alleged in some quarters, but to bring sanity to the state and ensure it complies with its mega or smart city status, according to Nairametrics.
She further noted that parking is an essential part of addressing the perennial traffic logjam in the state, assuring that the scheme would put an end to indiscriminate parking in most parts of Lagos.
Adelabu also insisted that the new tax policy was not tantamount to multiple taxations of the Lagos residents, adding that motorists had been paying fees to faceless persons in the past year without accountability.
She, however, did not specify the ranges of the payments by vehicle owners, religious and event centres.
The LASPA boss added that the amount of money to be paid would vary from one area to the other, depending on the location.
Adelabu insisted that the law was not new in the state as former governor Babatunde Fashola, commenced its implementation during his time as the governor of the state, but was relaxed by his successor.
According to her, the implementation of the tax levy then compelled some religious and event centres to either relocate their activities out of their areas or buy properties close to their centres.
Adelabu noted that, “We want to see a Lagos state where parking space and cost are considered for every inhabitant of the state.
“Parking is the priority of everyone, including landlords and tenants.
“Lagos state will get to a stage where houses won’t be taken because of inadequate parking space.
“We have used the last nine months to build an inter-agency relationship in a bid to drive the programme well, and concessionaires will be engaged.
“At least, each concessionaire will employ between 50 to 100 employees. That is another way of creating jobs for the people.
“On-street parking, we will eventually cover all streets and setbacks in the entire state,” she added.
Comments