Wike Declares Park and Pay Scheme in Abuja Illegal

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has officially declared the Park and Pay scheme operating in Abuja as illegal.

During a press briefing with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike made this announcement. The interactive session was part of activities marking his first year in office.

Wike revealed that the scheme, which had been siphoning government funds, came to his attention through a concerned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The SAN had alerted Wike about a group posing as officials from the Transport Secretariat, attempting to seize vehicles under the pretense of legal authority.

Wike expressed his concern over the discovery, noting that the scheme operated covertly, allowing private consultants to pocket a significant portion of the revenue that should have gone to the government. “These are the issues we must address within the system,” Wike stated. “Sometimes, we’re not aware of these activities until they are brought to our attention. We can’t be everywhere.”

The incident unfolded when the SAN contacted Wike with a troubling report: “Sir, some individuals came to our office and are attempting to seize our vehicles. They claim to be from the Transport Secretariat.” Wike recounted how he immediately intervened, questioning the legitimacy of the operation. The response he received revealed that an agreement existed between the Transport Secretariat and private consultants, where the consultants took 80% of the collected revenue, leaving only 20% for the FCT Administration.

Wike quickly declared the scheme illegal and assured that swift action would be taken to dismantle the operation. “I’m making it clear that this scheme is illegal, and no such arrangement exists. If my colleague hadn’t informed me, I would have remained unaware,” he concluded.