- The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has directed the immediate clampdown on the proliferation of fake diplomatic and other unauthorised number plates, as seen on some vehicles plying Nigerian roads.
- This was contained in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Tuesday in Abuja.
- According to the FRSC boss, the directive had become necessary in line with his administration’s proactive approach towards contributing to enhancing national security.
- He said that these identified number plates were fraudulently produced by suspected criminals, as they were neither produced by any of the production plants of the FRSC in the country nor issued by the Motor Licensing Authorities of States.
- He identified the fake and unauthorised number plates to include those with he following inscriptions: DIPLOMATIC NUMBER PLATES, NYCN, PEACE AMBASSADOR, NAUS, CYMS, UN-UNITY 01, UN-AMB, NANS, among others.
- The FRSC Corps Marshal therefore approved immediate commencement of tactical enforcement across all formations of the Corps.
- This, he said, was to ensure speedy arrest and impoundment of all vehicles on Nigerian roads with the above-identified fake number plates or any other of its kind.
- He advised members of the public to report anyone using such number plates to law enforcement bodies.
- “Members of the public who are presently using such vehicle identifications are by this publication warned to immediately discontinue the use of these fake and unauthorised plates as defaulters will be prosecuted,” he said.
- Corps Marshal Mohammed said that the corps would collaborate with other security agencies to uncover the sources of the fake number plates for necessary apprehension and prosecution.
- He added that, to achieve maximum impact in the aggressive enforcement, operations of the Corps are ho own such vehicles shall be prosecuted along as accomplices.
- “The Corps is committed to this action and will ensure that not even one of these nefarious individuals who are only driven by pecuniary gains to compromise the security architecture of the country will be left unarrested,” he assured.
