The Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Commission are potentially headed for another clash regarding the enforcement of the digitized Central Motor Registry system in the country.
In a statement on Saturday, Force Public Relation Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced that the Force would begin enforcement of the e-CMR within 14 days.
He highlighted that this initiative, led by Inspector-General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun, aims to modernize the motor vehicle registration system to enhance national security.
“As part of the efforts of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, NPM, PhD, to enhancing the security of lives and property, the Nigeria Police Force is set to commence the enforcement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) within the next 14 days, specifically on the 29th of July, 2024, to rejuvenate and digitalise the motor vehicle registration system, significantly bolstering our nation’s safety and security framework,” he stated.
Adejobi explained that the e-CMR would provide the police with real-time access to motor vehicle data, aiding in the fight against vehicle-related crimes.
The IGP has mandated widespread publicity and enforcement of this initiative across the country.
He urged vehicle owners and users to support and adopt the e-CMR for enhanced security, emphasizing the system’s role in reducing vehicle theft and the sale of stolen vehicles.
“We therefore urge all vehicle owners and users to embrace and key into this initiative promptly for optimum safety and security,” he said.
In response, the FRSC maintained that the police do not have the authority to demand the e-CMR from drivers.
FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide stated that the commission would review the development and issue a formal response.
“I just saw the development myself, so the management would go through it and we will issue a statement on it as soon as possible,” Olusegun Ogungbemide, its spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Saturday.
The dispute over the enforcement of the e-CMR is not new. A similar disagreement occurred in 2004, with the FRSC asserting that the police did not have the authority to demand the e-CMR from drivers.
At that time, FRSC spokesperson, Yakubu Attah, noted that the Joint Tax Board had resolved to urge the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, to direct police commands to stop demanding the e-CMR from motorists.
“In the last meeting of the Joint Tax Board in March 2004, there was a resolution to urge the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, to intervene on the issue of e-CMR by directing the various Police commands across the country to cease demanding this document from road users,” Yakubu Attah, the then FRSC spokesperson, said.
