Lagos to Launch Paid On-Street Parking by Late 2026

​The Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has announced that motorists will begin paying for street parking in designated areas before the end of 2026. This initiative aims to tackle the chronic traffic congestion and chaotic roadside parking that have long plagued Africa’s largest city.

​Pilot Launch in Ikeja

​General Manager of LASPA, Adebisi Adelabu, revealed the plan during a stakeholder engagement visit with the Ikeja Local Government Area. The On-Street Parking Scheme will debut as a pilot program in selected areas, with Ikeja serving as a primary launch site.

​Key objectives of the scheme include:

​Orderly Streets: Reducing indiscriminate parking that narrows major carriageways.

​Traffic Relief: Improving flow in high-traffic commercial hubs like Ikeja, Surulere, and Apapa.

​Job Creation: Generating employment opportunities for residents within the designated parking zones.

​Collaborative Governance

​Addressing the legal framework, Adelabu noted that while parking management originally sat with local governments, the Conference of 57 LGAs and LCDAs officially ceded this responsibility to LASPA.

​Benefit Sharing: Local governments stand to benefit financially and operationally based on their level of cooperation.

​Public Awareness: Ikeja LGA Chairman, Akeem Dauda, has pledged his support but emphasized the need for "wider public sensitization" to ensure residents are prepared for the transition.

​The Economic Cost of Chaos

​Lagos has struggled for decades with gridlock caused by vehicles parked haphazardly on roadsides. Experts suggest this disorder results in billions of naira in lost productivity annually.

​By introducing a structured, paid system, authorities hope to transform urban mobility and create a more sustainable, functional environment for commuters and businesses alike.

Source- : punchng