The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a special operation to eliminate fake vehicle number plates across Nigeria, according to Lagos State Sector Commander, Kehinde Hamzat.
Fake Plates Linked to Security Threats
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, February 7, 2025, Hamzat revealed that fraudulent number plates often bear the tags of high-profile institutions, including:
- Presidency
- Nigerian Youth Council (NYC)
- National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
These fake plates are used to evade law enforcement and commit crimes, posing a serious security risk.
FRSC Targets Fake Plate Users
While the producers of these fake plates remain unidentified, the FRSC has begun tracking and prosecuting individuals using them. Hamzat emphasized that many plates labeled “presidency” or other respected institutions do not exist in the national vehicle registration database.
“If you check these numbers in the database, they don’t exist. When such vehicles break the law, tracing them becomes impossible,” he explained.
FRSC Strengthens National Vehicle Identification System (NVIS)
This operation aligns with FRSC’s mission to protect the integrity of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS).
Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed has also issued strict orders to arrest and impound vehicles fraudulently associated with NANS structures.
What This Means for Nigerian Motorists
- Increased vehicle inspections nationwide
- Stricter enforcement against unregistered plates
- Severe penalties for offenders
