The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has successfully impounded over 350 vehicles across the country for using unauthorized number plates within just one month. This was revealed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, during a recent interview with newsmen in Abuja.
The nationwide operation, which began on February 3, 2025, is aimed at addressing the proliferation of fake and illegal number plates used by private, commercial, government, and even diplomatic vehicles.
The FRSC initiated this effort to enhance both road safety and national security, as vehicles with unauthorised plates pose significant risks to public safety and law enforcement operations.
Ogungbemide explained that the operation started with a two-week intervention in Abuja, where the focus was on vehicles bearing fake diplomatic numbers and unrecognized plates. He stressed that the widespread use of such unauthorized number plates has become a critical issue, undermining national security and making it harder to track vehicles.
“These fake number plates are a serious security concern. We don’t know where they are being printed or who is authorizing them,” Ogungbemide said. “The operation is not just about road safety—it’s a national security issue. When vehicles with fake plates are allowed on the roads, they complicate law enforcement efforts and threaten the security of our nation.”
Over the course of the month-long operation, the FRSC impounded 350 vehicles with unauthorized number plates, with the enforcement extending to all states of the federation. The operation has been praised for its success in identifying vehicles with dubious plates and removing them from the roads.
Ogungbemide also called on vehicle owners to ensure they obtain legitimate number plates through the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS), a simple and affordable process designed to provide a secure and reliable means of vehicle identification.
He cautioned against the use of “fancy number plates” that are not legally authorized, warning that such actions would lead to penalties.
“If you want a fancy number plate, you must acquire it through the NVIS. It’s a legal process that ensures your vehicle’s identification is authentic and secure,” he stated. “It’s wrong to just write a name on a plate and put it on your car. We must adhere to the laws of this country for the sake of safety and security.”
Ogungbemide further emphasized that vehicle owners who can afford expensive vehicles should not hesitate to invest in a legitimate number plate, as it is a small price to pay for ensuring public safety and national security.
He concluded by reiterating the FRSC’s commitment to ensuring that all vehicles on Nigerian roads are operating with valid, legal number plates and urged the public to cooperate with the agency’s personnel. The public is also encouraged to report any suspicious number plates to the nearest FRSC office.
As the FRSC continues its enforcement efforts, it remains dedicated to improving road safety and national security, ensuring that only properly registered vehicles operate on Nigerian roads.
