Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos during the 2023 general elections, has drawn attention to the growing concerns regarding the imposition of parking permits and associated fees by the state government.
Rhodes-Vivour expressed deep apprehension about the measures, citing their potential impact on a strained populace and the business landscape.
He highlighted the distress caused by the recent aggressive enforcement of parking permits and fees, emphasizing the economic hardships faced by both individuals and businesses.
The LP governorship candidate attributed a significant portion of these challenges to what he described as ”the recklessness and incompetence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the past few years,” urging for increased empathy and accountability in handling the finances collected from citizens.
He lamented that such additional financial obligations would exacerbate the existing difficulties faced by individuals and businesses in Lagos.
He urged the Lagos government to re-evaluate its current policies and ensure that future strategies are aligned with the best interests of the people and businesses in the state.
He also advocated for a balanced approach that not only generates revenue but also nurtures an environment conducive to economic growth, support, and overall prosperity for all stakeholders.
His words:
”I am deeply concerned about the recent aggression with parking permits and associated fees imposed by the Lagos state government.
”In these trying times, brought about largely by the recklessness and incompetence of the APC over the last few years, it is crucial that we prioritize empathy and accountability, particularly when it comes to the money collected from our citizens.
”The economic hardships that many individuals and businesses are currently facing must be at the forefront of our minds. Imposing additional financial burdens through parking permits and fees can exacerbate the difficulties they are already experiencing.
”This move threatens to worsen the ease of doing business in Lagos, especially as businesses grapple with multiple forms of taxation.
”It is equally concerning that while there is a significant emphasis on punishing infractions of vehicle owners and road users in Lagos, there is a lack of corresponding investments in road infrastructure.
”In fact, the poor condition of our roads is worsening, and the most terrible stops are used to set up both legal and illegal checkpoints to extort citizens.
”The truth is that adequate road infrastructure is essential for the growth and development of any region, and it is imperative that the government allocates resources to address this issue as against its narrow focus on extraction and extortion.
”I call on the Lagos state government to re-evaluate these policies and ensure that subsequent policies are in the best interest of the people and businesses of Lagos.
”We must strike a balance between generating revenue and fostering an environment that promotes economic growth, support, and prosperity for all.”