The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it impounded over 350 vehicles with fake diplomatic numbers, unrecognized number plates, and other related infractions within one month across the country.
The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, made this known in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
The FRSC began a nationwide operation to impound vehicles with unauthorised number plates on February 3.
The operation is targeted at vehicles with fake registration numbers and illegal use of number plates by private, commercial, government, and diplomatic vehicles.
Ogungbemide said that the corps launched the nationwide operation to enhance road safety and national security.
âThe initial intervention, which began in Abuja, targeted vehicles bearing fake diplomatic numbers, unrecognised number plates, and other related infractions.
âThe proliferation of fake number plates, poses significant security risks, undermining law enforcement efforts and compromising national security,â he said.
He said the first intervention took about two weeks in Abuja, the pilot location and was extended to all other states of the federation.
âWe impounded 350 vehicles in one month of the operation.
âWe imponded vehicles using fake diplomatic numbers, unrecognised number plates. We donât know where they were printed from and we donât know who gave them the permission.
âThe enforcement is still ongoing. You know it is not the issue of road safety alone. It goes into security too because a situation where you have proliferation of number plates all over the places, itâs a major issue when it comes to the issue of security.
âThat is why we are concerned over it and thatâs why we believe the right thing must be done,âhe said.
The FRSC spokesman urged vehicle owners to acquire legal number plates through the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS), stressing that the process was simple and affordable.
Ogungbemide explained that vehicle owners could register their vehicles under the NVIS, which provides a secure and reliable means of identifying vehicles.
He cautioned against the use of âfancy number platesâ without proper authorisation, warning that such actions would attract sanctions.
He noted that while fancy number plates may be desirable, they must be obtained through legitimate means to avoid compromising road safety and national security.
âThere is what we called Fancy Number Plates under the NVIS. If you feel you want to use a fancy number, if you can afford it, you go for it in a legal way.
âIt is wrong for anyone to just pick up a board and write his name on it. This country has laws, so things are to be done according to the laws.
âFor number plates, the process is very simple. Vehicle owners who can afford millions of naira to acquire a vehicle should be able to spend a few thousand naira to get a legal number plate. Itâs a matter of prioritising safety and security,âhe said.
Ogungbemide reiterated the committment of the corps towards ensuring that all vehicles on Nigerian roads operate with legitimate number plates.
He urged the public to cooperate with its personnel and to report any suspicious number plates to the nearest FRSC office.
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