Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Motorists in the country have been warned to stop the illegal covering of the number plates of their vehicles or risk being prosecuted and sent to jail.
This warning was given by the Zonal Commanding Officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Zone 4, Jos, Mr Kayode Olagunju.
The Assistant Corps Marshal said this act was common among the political class and senior government officials in the zone, comprising Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States.
He said it is an offence not to properly display vehicle identification number on any vehicle plying Nigerian roads, warning that such vehicle will be impounded while the drivers\owners will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the extant laws.
According to him, the illegal covering of number plates has both safety and security implication, adding that the act goes against Sections 10 (4) (h) and 10 (4) (s) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007 as well as sections 36 and 39 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.
According to him, many of the violators are also in the habit of driving dangerously hiding under the illusion that they could not be tracked as the vehicle plates are covered.
He reminded the public that dangerous driving under the act and NRTR attracts N50,000 fine and or six months imprisonment.
Mr Olagunju, therefore, directed all the Commands of the FRSC in the Zone to strictly enforce the laws by impounding all vehicles that carry illegal number plates and those having the plates hidden.
He said operators of such vehicles are to be arraigned before the mobile or regular courts where they stand the risks of fines payment of N3,000 and or two to six months imprisonment.
The senior road safety official urged all motorists to ensure they properly register their vehicles with the appropriate authorities and also display their number plates to avoid any form of embarrassment.
He also advised the motoring public that proper registration of vehicle is of great benefits to the owner of a vehicle especially in the areas of safety and security, noting that in the event of vehicle theft, the robust national vehicle identification database, which has records of all registered vehicles in Nigeria, provides detailed information for identification and possible recovery, saying that the database is also accessible to other security agencies working in synergy with the FRSC.
