By Chidi Ugwu
The National Assembly has endorsed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)’s nationwide crackdown on fake vehicle number plates, following the arrest of 7,798 offenders in just two months.
The House of Representatives Committee on FRSC declared its support during a March 18, 2025, meeting with Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, citing the operation’s critical role in enhancing road safety and national security.
According to a statement by Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Assistant Corps Marshal Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC highlighted that fake plates, often bearing tags like “Presidency,” “NANS,” or “Diplomatic,” are linked to crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery, as they evade traceability in the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.
“Despite threats from groups like the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the FRSC has impounded over 350 vehicles and vowed to prosecute offenders.
“The National Assembly’s endorsement strengthens the corps’ mandate to enforce stricter penalties” he stated.
Ogungbemide also disclosed that the FRSC plans to collaborate with security agencies to dismantle networks producing fake plates and improve the NVIS portal to block unregistered vehicles.
The Corps Marshal urged Nigerians to obtain genuine number plates and report suspicious cases, emphasizing that public support is vital to curbing the menace.
