The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has directed the immediate clampdown on confirmed cases of the proliferation of fake diplomatic and other unauthorized number plates as seen on some vehicles plying Nigerian roads.
Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal, Olusegun Ogungbemide, who made this known in a statement, said the order is part of the administration’s proactive approach towards enhancing national security.
Ogungbemide said the identified number plates are fraudulently produced by suspected criminals, adding that “they were neither produced by any of the production plants of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the country nor issued by the Motor Licensing Authorities of States.”
He listed the identified fake and unauthorised number plates as those with the following inscriptions: DIPLOMATIC NUMBER PLATES, NYCN, PEACE AMBASSADOR, NAUS, CYMS, UN-UNITY 01, UN-AMB, NANS, Etc.
To bring the criminal activity to a halt, he said the Corps Marshal has approved immediate commencement of enforcement across all formations of the Corps, so as to ensure speedy arrest and impoundment of all vehicles with the above identified fake number plates or any other of its kind on Nigerian roads.
He said the fake and unauthorised number plates are mostly used for nefarious and criminal activities, just as he urged the public to report anyone using such number plates to the appropriate authorities.
Members of the public who are presently using such vehicle identifications are warned to immediately discontinue the use as defaulters will be prosecuted, Ogungbemide warned.
He said the Corps and other security agencies will collaborate towards uncovering the sources of the fake number plates for apprehension and prosecution, adding that owners of such vehicles will also be prosecuted as well as their accomplices.
