The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced the dismantling of the controversial Park and Pay scheme in Abuja, following revelations of corruption and a skewed revenue-sharing arrangement. Wike made this announcement during a live media parley on Wednesday, marking his first year in office.
The minister expressed his dismay at the existing revenue-sharing formula, which allocates 80% of the collected funds to private consultants, while the FCT Administration receives only 20%. He criticized the arrangement as a legal loophole that has allowed private entities to siphon off significant amounts of government revenue.
Wike disclosed that the issue was brought to his attention by a senior advocate, who reported an incident where individuals claiming to be from the Transport Secretariat attempted to seize vehicles from a legal office under the Park and Pay scheme. This led the minister to investigate further, uncovering the questionable agreements between the FCT Transport Secretariat and private consultants.
“I wasn’t aware of this until I received a call from a senior advocate, who informed me about the situation. When I questioned the person involved, it became clear that there were agreements in place allowing these consultants to collect 80% of the revenues, leaving only 20% for the FCT Administration,” Wike explained.
In response, Wike declared the scheme illegal and vowed to dismantle the operation immediately. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability within the FCT’s operations, stating that such corrupt practices would not be tolerated under his administration.
“This incident has highlighted a critical flaw in our system that needs to be addressed. If my colleague hadn’t alerted me, I wouldn’t have known about this. We must remain vigilant to prevent such exploitation,” Wike stated.
The minister’s swift action is expected to lead to a broader investigation into similar practices across the FCT, ensuring that government revenues are protected from exploitation by unscrupulous actors. Wike’s stance underscores his commitment to rooting out corruption and enforcing stricter oversight within the capital’s administration.
