By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee has faulted the park and pay arrangement of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
In an interactive session with Chinedum Elechi, mandate secretary in charge of the transportation secretariat, the committee chairman, Muktar Betara, demanded details on how the reintroduced park and pay arrangement was established, who authorised it, and how remittances are made to the coffers of the FCDA.
Elechi said the policy is regulated and supported by a legal framework and that only designated areas serve as parking zones.
The Committee chairman queried the mandate secretary about the contract process. “How it was established, procedures for appointing concessionaires, how much has been remitted to the FCDA from January to date and who gave you the approval.
Hussaina Olayemi, the director of legal services of the transport secretariat, explained that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Abuja Investment Company (AIC), the FCT organisation responsible for public-private partnerships, were involved.
The Committee criticized the FCDA for allocating 60 percent of revenue to concessionaires while the government receives only 40 percent, demanding clarification on what infrastructure the concessionaires are providing.
The mandate secretary stated that the concessionaire is responsible for marking roads. However, the committee chair countered, asserting that no roads in Abuja have been marked by the concessionaire.
The Committee ruled that, on the next appearance, the mandate secretary should bring a copy of the agreement with the concessionaires and details of the remittances received from January to date.
The committee also questioned the FCDA officials over abandoned motor parks in the nation’s capital.
Paschal Agbodike, a member of the committee, specifically expressed concerns over the condition of the Nyanya park.
Elechi said the park has not been abandoned, adding that the government is taking one project at time, with initial focus on rails.
“Nyanya park is not abandoned. We cannot do everything at the same time. When we came on board, the rail was a priority, but now our attention has shifted to the development of parks. We are currently focusing fully on the bus terminal,” he said.
The committee also sought details on the financial allocations and expenditures for various projects. However, the transport officials struggled to provide concrete figures.
Hon. Kama Nkemkanma pressed for specifics on the budget for road mapping from the airport to the city center, while Betara questioned the transport director about the funds provided in 2022 and 2023.
The mandate secretary and director of finance could not provide specific figures on the various projects.
