The House of Representatives has directed officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to begin the arrest and prosecution of individuals using fake vehicle number plates as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities in the country.
This resolution was adopted following a motion sponsored by Matthew Nwogu, the representative of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency in Imo State, during Thursday’s plenary session.
Nwogu emphasized that vehicle number plates serve the crucial purpose of identifying vehicles, allowing security agencies to trace and track any suspected of being involved in criminal activities. He referenced a report by Vanguard on February 7, 2025, in which the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC stated that many fake number plates used in crimes bear the tags of reputable institutions, including the Presidency, the Nigeria Youth Council, and the National Association of Nigerian Students.
He further noted that incidents of “One Chance” robberies and kidnappings in Nigeria are often linked to the use of fake vehicle plate numbers, with some victims suffering severe harm or even losing their lives at the hands of these criminals.
The Labour Party lawmaker stressed that, given the current state of insecurity in the country, there is an urgent need to crack down on the use of fake number plates, which pose a significant security threat to citizens.
“The House is concerned that some number plates bearing the tags of the Presidency, Nigeria Youth Council, National Association of Nigerian Students, and other government agencies are, according to the FRSC Sector Command in Lagos, not registered in the Nigeria Vehicle Registration database,” he added.
When the motion was put to a voice vote, members overwhelmingly supported it.
Following its adoption, the House urged the FRSC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, to intensify efforts to arrest users of fake plate numbers and ensure that those producing them are identified and prosecuted.
The House also urged both agencies to ensure that only vehicles with registered plate numbers listed in the Nigeria Vehicle Registration database are allowed on the roads.
