National Assembly Lifts Suspension On Number Plates

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The Senate has lifted the suspension order on the production of the new vehicle number plates and driver’s license.

The upper house has however, suspended with immediate effect the Biometric Central Motor Registry, (BCMR), of the Nigeria Police.

The House of Representatives had also lifted its suspension on the new plate numbers nine days earlier.

The Senate also ordered an immediate stop to the E-coding scheme by the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services and directed the two agencies to integrate with the Federal Road Safety Commission’s already existing data base as practised before now, for the verification of vehicle owners across the country.

This was part of the outcome of the Senate plenary session where it lifted suspension for the production of the new number plate and driver’s license by the Federal Road Safety Commission.

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According to the Senate, the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry was not only an unnecessary duplication of the ongoing scheme of motor vehicle administration by the Federal Road Safety Commission but also places additional financial burden on vehicle owners which is capable of translating to hike in transport fare for commuters in Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Senate also urged the Federal Capital Territory VIO to stop forthwith, the E-coding scheme and the collection of N2,500 per vehicle and integrate with the FRSC.

However, the Senate urged the Corps to call for replacement of driver’s license only at the point of renewal on its expiration to avoid double payment by Nigerian drivers and also requested the Joint Tax Board to take all necessary steps to checkmate the activities of touts at the point of selling the vehicle number plate and driver’s license in order to remove unnecessary increase in price.

While advising the FRSC to embark on massive orientation and enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians on the advantages , benefits and other security details associated with the new vehicle registration and driver licensing scheme, the Senate further called for an extension of time frame for motorists to renew their licenses and vehicle number plates by six months, in view of the few months of non-production occasioned by the suspension order.

—Seun Bisuga

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