The Oyo State House of Assembly has stated the necessity for local government councils, private and corporate organizations to capitalize on the creation of car parks, parking spaces.
The importance of car parks was included in a motion proposed by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North East I alongside Honourables Hakeem Adedibu and Ayo Fatokun, at Thursday’s plenary sitting.
The motion complained about the perils of illegal parking by roadside mechanics, failure of owners of banks, industries, warehouses, malls, and others to make provision for adequate car parking spaces as contributing to gridlock in the state capital.
As contained in the motion, the endless gridlock, which is a reflection of the bastardisation of original master plans, is not only an Ibadan crisis but that of other major towns like Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin and Eruwa.
Also, the motion complained that gridlock was propagated by the inexistence parking spaces in markets and the existence of roadside mechanic workshops.
Giving contributions, both Honourable Oluwafowokanmi Oluwafemi of Ibadan South West 2 and Honourable Kazeem Olayanju of Irepo/Olorunsogo advised local government Chairmen to prioritise carving out spaces for car parks and mechanic workshops.
More contributions streamed in with Minority Leader, Honourable Asimiyu Alarape and Honourable Wumi Oladeji of Ogbomoso North criticizing the state government on its failure to maintain fidelity on moving against roadside traders.
Olajide in his motion, highlighted ongoing illegalities, mismanagement and revenue leakages in state markets.
He listed the aberrations in markets which include conversion of car parks, generator houses and public toilets to shops, construction of shops along flower channels, illegal sales of shops, illegal collection of government revenue and poor environmental conditions.
They complained about the challenge of not enforcing existing laws, stating that the state government must be ready to be a pain, for the greater gain of the society.
In its suggestions, the Assembly advised the department of Physical Planning and Development to include of adequate parking lots in its following approvals of proposed commercial, institutional, educational, industrial, residential, worship, religious and other infrastructure in the state.
The Assembly also tasked the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) to strengthen their efforts in decongesting areas like Academy, Iwo Road Market, Oje Market road, Bus stop-Gate road, Ibadan, Odo-Oba, Taki Ogbomoso, Eleekara Oyo
