The Lagos State Government has alerted residents and motorists in the Computer Village area of Ikeja to the activities of fraudsters posing as parking operators to extort unsuspecting drivers.
A statement obtained by The PUNCH on the government Facebook page on Wednesday, the Lagos State Parking Authority, warned that individuals and syndicates involved in illegal parking activities risk arrest and prosecution.
According to the statement, the General Manager of LASPA, Adebisi Adelabu, said the authority had uncovered a racket in which fraudsters, working with touts, illegally collect parking fees from motorists.
“It has come to our notice that illegal operators in the Ikeja under-bridge and Computer Village area allegedly charge unsuspecting drivers N1,000 to park their vehicles,” the statement quoted her as saying.
Adelabu further noted that some operatives of the Lagos Central Business District allegedly clamp down on vehicles parked illegally by these operators, removing number plates or arranging for vehicles to be towed, forcing owners to pay substantial fines to recover both their vehicles and licence plates.
She emphasised that the management and regulation of parking within Ikeja, Computer Village, and across Lagos State fall solely under LASPA’s mandate.
“We are aware of these fraudulent activities, and we want to make it clear that LASPA is the only government body legally mandated to oversee parking in Lagos State,” she said.
The statement added that LASPA condemns these illicit activities in the strongest terms, describing them as a disservice to the public and an embarrassment to the government’s efforts to create an orderly parking system.
LASPA urged all perpetrators to cease immediately, noting that the authority has strengthened monitoring and enforcement operations in Computer Village and other areas.
It urged motorists and visitors to patronise only LASPA-registered parking operators with valid identification and receipts.
The statement concluded by urging motorists to report any suspicious activities to the necessary authorities.
