'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The National Assembly has thrown its full support behind the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in its ongoing crackdown on the proliferation of fake number plates across Nigeria. This endorsement comes as the Corps recorded an alarming 7,798 arrests related to number plate violations within the past two months.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FRSC, Honourable Abiodun Derin Adesida, publicly declared the legislative body's backing for the FRSC during a meeting with the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, and committee members at the National Assembly on March 18, 2025. The meeting was convened in response to the increasing circulation of fake vehicle number plates, which has raised serious concerns about public safety and national security.
During the engagement, the FRSC Corps Marshal provided a detailed briefing on the agency’s intensified efforts to eliminate fake vehicle registrations. He revealed that the crackdown has met strong resistance from vehicle owners found using fraudulent plates. However, he reassured the lawmakers that the National Vehicle Identification Scheme Portal is being enhanced to prevent unregistered or fake-numbered vehicles from operating on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed highlighted the alarming trend of motorists flouting the law by using counterfeit or unauthorized number plates. This practice, he stressed, not only compromises road safety but also poses significant security risks, as it obstructs law enforcement agencies from effectively tracking vehicles involved in criminal activities.
Hon. Adesida lauded the FRSC's proactive enforcement measures and assured the Corps Marshal of the National Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with the agency. He emphasized that legislative action would be taken to strengthen existing laws to ensure that offenders face strict penalties.
The National Assembly’s endorsement marks a major milestone in the fight against fake number plates, signaling a unified front between lawmakers and the FRSC to enhance road safety and national security.
In his closing remarks, the FRSC Corps Marshal commended the National Assembly for its unwavering commitment to road safety and security. He urged Nigerians to comply with the law by obtaining genuine number plates and encouraged the public to report any instances of fake registrations to the nearest FRSC Command.
The crackdown is part of the FRSC’s broader strategy to clean up the country’s vehicle registration system, improve law enforcement efficiency, and ensure that only legally registered vehicles ply Nigerian roads.
