LASPA warns against illegal parking extortion in Computer Village

By Adeola Ogunrinde –

The Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has issued a strong warning to individuals and syndicates involved in illegal parking extortion in the Computer Village area of Ikeja, urging them to desist or face the full weight of the law.

The General Manager of LASPA, Mrs Adebisi Adelabu, gave the warning on Wednesday, noting that the authority had uncovered a racket in which fraudsters, in collaboration with touts, illegally collect parking fees from motorists under false pretences.

She disclosed that the authority had received reports that illegal parking operators in the Ikeja under-bridge and Computer Village areas charge unsuspecting drivers ₦1,000 to park their vehicles.

Adelabu further revealed that some operatives of the Lagos Central Business District (CBD) in Ikeja often clamp down on illegally parked vehicles by removing their number plates or arranging for them to be towed away, forcing owners to pay significant fines to recover their vehicles and plates.

She emphasised that the management and regulation of parking within the Ikeja business district, Computer Village and across the state is not within the statutory purview of the CBD or any group of touts, but rests exclusively with LASPA.

“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 LASPA boss condemned the activities, describing them as a disservice to the public and an embarrassment to the state government’s efforts to create a seamless and orderly parking system.

She urged all perpetrators to stop immediately, adding that the authority had strengthened its monitoring and enforcement operations in Computer Village and other parts of the state, while advising motorists to remain vigilant and patronise only LASPA-registered operators with valid identification and receipts.