The House of Representatives has directed the police and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to urgently work together to arrest all vehicle owners using fake plate numbers nationwide.
This directive followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Matthew Nwogu during yesterday’s plenary. Nwogu explained that the primary purpose of vehicle plate numbers is to facilitate the easy identification of vehicles, thereby enabling security agencies to trace and pinpoint any vehicle suspected of criminal activity.
Citing a newspaper report from February 7, Nwogu referenced remarks made by the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, who noted that many fake number plates used in criminal activities bear the logos of respected institutions such as the Presidency, Nigeria Youth Council (NYC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), among others.
Lawmakers expressed deep concern that incidents of one-chance robberies and kidnappings have been linked to the use of fraudulent plate numbers, with some victims falling prey to criminals while others have tragically lost their lives.
The House further called on the FRSC to collaborate closely with the Nigeria Police Force to intensify efforts to apprehend both the users of fake plate numbers and the producers responsible for manufacturing them. It also mandated its Committee on the Federal Road Safety Commission to ensure immediate compliance with this directive and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
