By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The enforcement of the electronic central motor registry registration process (e-CMR) of the Nigeria Police Force has been suspended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
This came after the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) threatened a showdown with the police over the issue.
The police had earlier planned to arrest motorists without the e-CMR from Monday, July 29, 2024, but after the warning from lawyers, the enforcement has been stepped down.
In a statement on Sunday night, the spokesman of the police, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police chief ordered the suspension of the enforcement to give room for massively enlightening members of the public about the benefits of the initiative.
Mr Egbetokun, therefore, directed “all police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement, which will be done by only dedicated officers, has been suspended till further notice.”
However, the lead agency for internal security noted that the e-CMR, if allowed to become operational, would ensure the safety and security of all types of vehicles, including motorcycles.
According to the statement, this will be done by collating data imputed into the system by vehicle owners and acting on such to flag the vehicles if reported stolen.
“The e-CMR will provide a first-hand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets.
“Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple registrations of vehicles and serve as a database to collate biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security,” a part of the disclosure explained.
The police waved off claims that the scheme was introduced to generate revenue for the government, stressing that it was designed to “digitalize policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.”
It advised motorists to obtain the digitalized CMR certificate online at https://cmris.npf.gov.ng, appealing to all to “key into the e-CMR system.”
