By Toochi Ejiofor
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has ordered a nationwide crackdown on vehicles operating without or with concealed plate numbers.
The directive was recently issued during the monthly conference with senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, the IGP described the growing trend as unlawful and a threat to public safety and national security.
He noted that proper vehicle registration remains critical for crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and law enforcement, adding that criminal elements often exploit anonymous vehicles to commit crimes and evade detection.
Following the directive, all police commands and tactical formations have been ordered to immediately begin enforcement operations against offending vehicles nationwide.
The police stated that any vehicle found without approved registration plates or with tampered registration details would be stopped, impounded, and subjected to legal procedures in line with existing laws.
In Nigeria, driving a vehicle without a number plate or with an unregistered plate is considered a traffic offence and also raises security concerns.
Under Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) regulations, the offence falls under Vehicle Number Plate Violation (NPV) and Vehicle Identification Tag Violation (VITV). The FRSC lists the penalty for a number plate violation at about ₦3,000, although vehicles may also be stopped, impounded, or investigated depending on the circumstances and whether other offences are involved.
The IGP urged vehicle owners to comply with registration requirements, warning that there would be no preferential treatment during enforcement.
This move forms part of efforts to strengthen public safety, support national security, and prevent crime across the country.
