FOI: Private Sector Company Obeys Court Order & Releases details of Revenue Generated from Parking Fees in Abuja

Following the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja, a private sector company, the Integrated Parking Services (IPS), has released details of all revenue generated from operating Parking services in the Abuja metropolis.

Through a letter  signed by the Managing Director of the company  signalling obedience to the court order, IPS provided the PPDC with certified bank statements from Fidelity Bank, Zenith bank and UBA.

According to the forwarding letter, the total amount of money realised from inception of the parking service until November 2013 (which is the period covered by the FOI request) is Two hundred and twenty two Million, One hundred and ninety three thousand and eight hundred and forty two thousand Naira thirty two kobo (222, 193, 842.32) while the total remittance to Federal Capital Territory Administration is Twenty two million, two hundred and nineteen thousand, three hundred and eighty four Naira, thirteen kobo (22, 219, 384.13)

The IPS also furnished PPDC with the contract agreement signed between IPS and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). According to the agreement, the scheme under which IPS controls parking and collects parking fees is being undertaken under a Public Private Partnership scheme and IPS emerged as one of the companies to carry out this scheme through a competitive process.

The agreement also states that the aim of embarking on the revenue generating scheme from parked vehicles is to provide resources to meet the infrastructure development needs of the FCTA.

This judgement favours private sector transparency and affirms the disclosure obligations of private institutions carrying out public functions as is statutorily required by  the Freedom of Information Act 2011.