The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a total ban on all use of Police SPY vehicle number plates by vehicle owners across the states of the federation without exceptions.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi on Wednesday.
TheFact Daily recalls that the Police Chief had, in June 2021, ordered the retrieval of SPY number plates from unauthorized persons, stating that existing SPY number plates must be used by authorised users for purposes and vehicles specified by law, while issuance of new SPY number plates remain on hold pending the release of a new protocol that would guide its issuance and usage in the country.
On the total ban, Adejobi said the order had become necessary “to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates”.
Consequently, the Police Chief has directed that police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order, which is
irrespective of whether it is authorized, or not, as all authorizations are hereby revoked indefinitely.
The IGP has further directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to give full effect to the directives as contained above.
The IGP also specifically directed AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use are confiscated henceforth. However, the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.
The IGP warned that in the course of carrying out these directives, officers must ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices.
The statement also enjoins other security agencies and members of the public to cooperate with the Police in this regard as “the moves are aimed at strengthening our internal security”.
The SPY Police vehicle plate number was legitimately designed to give security privileges to legitimate businesses in Nigeria in their day-to-day activities in the movement of staff, equipment and VIPs.
