The House of Representatives of Nigeria has called on officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps to commence the arrest and prosecution of users of fake vehicle number plates, to tackle the spate of criminality in the country.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Aboh Mbaise Federal Constituency, in Imo State, Matthew Nwogu during Thursday’s plenary.
While noting that the purposes of vehicle plate numbers are for easy identification of vehicles and to enable security agencies to trace and identify any vehicle suspected to be involved in crime, Nwogu noted that the Lagos State Command of FRSC claimed that most fake number plates used for crime in the country, bear the tags of respected Institutions such as the Presidency, Nigeria Youth Council and National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS.
The Lawmaker added that the One Chance robbery and kidnapping incident in Nigeria are also linked to fake vehicle plate numbers, stressing that some victim meet their untimely death in the hands of the criminals that operate with the fake plates.
The Labour Party lawmaker further argued that with the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to crack down on the use of fake plate numbers which pose a security threat to the citizens.
9News Nigeria reports that some of his words were; “The House is concerned that some number plates bearing the Presidency, Nigeria Youth Council, National Association of Nigerian Students, and other government agencies are, according to the FRSC Sector Command, Lagos, not registered in the Nigeria Vehicle Registration database.”
The Credible News Outlet reports that members of the House voted overwhelmingly in support when the motion was subjected to a voice vote.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House therefore urged the FRSC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, to intensify efforts to arrest users of fake plate numbers and ensure that the producers are traced and prosecuted.
It further urged the two agencies to ensure that only vehicles with registered plate numbers found in the Nigeria Vehicle registration database ply roads in the country.
