By Mojeed Adeyinka Ajibola
The Oyo State House of Assembly has warned residents and business owners against illegal parking, road obstruction and provision of inadequate parking spaces for their staff and customers.
The State lawmakers during their Thursday plenary in Ibadan associated traffic congestion, traffic accident and environmental pollution to the imbalance between parking supply and demand in Ibadan and other major towns of the State.
Lamenting how many commercial banks, owners of industries, warehouses, stores, restaurants, event centers and others do not take cognizance of the need to provide adequate car parks for their staff and customers in a motion jointly moved by Hon. Olamide Olagoke, Akeem Adedibu, Ayo Fatokun representing Ibadan North East I, Iwajowa and Akinyele I, State constituency respectively, Oyo Assembly called on the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency to put more efforts in ensuring free and adequate flow of human and vehicular movement.
According to the motion, the proliferation of illegal mechanic workshops and other traders on road sides of major cities in the State does not project the image of the Pace Setter State, noting that it makes the environment unattractive to investors.
Taking the resolution of the house, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin urged the Department of Physical Planning and Development to strictly take into consideration the inclusion of adequate parking lots in the design and consequent approval of proposed commercial, industrial, religious, residential and other buildings in the State.
He said, “The Ministry of Environment also need to bring erring mechanics and other technicians who have turned major road sides to illegal Workshops to book.
“Private parking spaces at prime locations are welcomed ideas and this can be achieved through public, private partnership to ease traffic congestion and gridlock in the State.”