The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has directed police commands across the country to commence strict enforcement against vehicles operating without registration number plates or with concealed, altered or defaced registration numbers.
The directive was issued during the monthly conference of strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to the IGP, the increasing number of vehicles operating without proper registration or with deliberately obscured number plates poses a significant threat to public safety and national security. He stressed that vehicle registration remains a vital tool for crime prevention, intelligence gathering and effective law enforcement.
Disu noted that criminals often take advantage of unregistered and anonymous vehicles to commit offences and evade detection, making it imperative for law enforcement agencies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures. As part of the directive, all Commissioners of Police, Tactical Commanders and Heads of Police Formations nationwide have been instructed to immediately intensify operations targeting offending vehicles.
Under the enforcement campaign, any vehicle found operating without approved registration plates or with tampered, altered, concealed or defaced registration details will be stopped, impounded and subjected to appropriate legal procedures in line with existing laws and regulations. The police chief warned that there would be no exceptions in the implementation of the directive, urging vehicle owners and motorists to ensure full compliance with registration requirements to avoid sanctions.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to supporting national security objectives, enhancing public safety and enforcing laws aimed at preventing crime and protecting citizens. The directive comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies to improve vehicle identification systems and curb the use of unregistered vehicles in criminal activities across the country.
The statement was issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
