Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced that the Park and Pay scheme in Abuja is illegal. The Minister made this statement during a live media session on Wednesday in Abuja, commemorating his first year in office.
Wike expressed disapproval of the scheme’s financial arrangement, where the consultant receives 80% and the FCT administration only 20%. “The call from a senior advocate brought to light a scheme that has been siphoning government funds under the guise of a legal operation,” Wike said.
He noted that the scheme had been operating discreetly and revealed a critical flaw that allowed private consultants to claim the majority of the revenue meant for the government. “These are things we need to fight within the system. Sometimes, if you don’t bring it to our attention, we may not know. We can’t be everywhere,” Wike emphasized.
Wike, initially unaware of the scheme, sought clarification upon learning about it. “I wasn’t aware of this, so I called the person in charge of it. I asked, ‘Who collects the money?’ Unknown to us, there are agreements between the secretariat and some people who claim to be consultants. So, the consultant takes 80%, and the FCT administration takes 20%,” he explained, showing his concern.
The Minister’s revelation has ignited a wider conversation about transparency and accountability within the FCT’s operations. He asserted that such practices are illegal and vowed to take immediate action to dismantle the scheme. “I’m trying to say that it’s illegal, and nothing like that exists. And if my colleague hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have known,” Wike stated.
This incident not only exposes a specific case of corruption but also underscores the need for vigilance in governance. Wike’s prompt response is expected to prompt a broader investigation into similar practices across the FCT to safeguard government resources from exploitation.