The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police, on
Wednesday, disagreed over who has the right to issue vehicle number
plates and keep the database of vehicles in Nigeria.
The exercise is currently being undertaken by the FRSC but the
police claimed it was an exclusive responsibility of the State Motor
Licensing Authority (MLA) while keeping of database was that of the
police.
However, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, in his reaction,
noted that the ECMR programme of the police had been faulted and
certified illegal by the Joint Task Board that met separately at Kano and Nasarawa states.
This
drama played out during the public hearing on new number plate and
driver’s licence by the Senate Committee on Federal Character
and Inter-governmental Affairs, where Deputy Inspector General of
Police (DIG), Olajide Akano, said new number plate registration and
driver’s licence upgrading by the FRSC were illegal and a violation of
the Act setting up the commission.
He informed the committee that the police had already concluded
arrangement on an electronic data system, Enhanced Central Motor
Registration (ECMR), which would capture vehicle registration in the
country electronically.
Akano further said that the system would address the security challenges in the country.
But the FRSC boss replied, saying that the ECMR programme of the
ploce had been certified illegal by the Joint Task Board that met at
Kano and Nasarawa States.
He went ahead to read the communiqué of the JTB meeting, while
insisting that it was the responsibility of the FRSC, as stipulated by
the FRSC Act, to issue number plates and keep the data of vehicles.
