IG bows to pressure and suspends enforcement of electric motor registration

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has suspended the enforcement of electronic registration of vehicle owners in the country’s Central Motor Vehicle Registry.

Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said on Saturday that the IG had ordered that the enforcement of the e-CMR should begin on July 29.

The warrant sparked an outcry among the Nigerian population, who accused the police of creating an opportunity to blackmail vehicle owners.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Public Interest and Development Law Section of the Nigerian Bar Association, John Aikpokpo-Martins, said Egbetokun’s directive to begin enforcing the digitized Central Register of Motor Vehicles was a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

But in a statement on Sunday, Adejobi announced that the IG had suspended enforcement of the e-CMR.

He added that citizens need to be made aware of the initiative, which aims to secure vehicles.

He said: “Following the reconfiguration and implementation of the electronic registration process in the Central Motor Vehicle Register, the police have deemed it necessary to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative. This initiative aims to ensure the safety of all types of vehicles, including motorcycles, by collecting the data entered into the system by vehicle owners and acting on this basis to flag the vehicles reported as stolen.

“The e-CMR will provide the police with a first-hand database to curb traffic crime, as dedicated officers will be able to access comprehensive data on each vehicle in real time via their tablets.

“Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple registrations of vehicles and serve as a database for collecting biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals. It will thus add value to the national database and the accident reporting portal of other ministries, departments and authorities for general safety.”

Adejobi denied that e-CMR was a revenue-generating platform.

He said: “Furthermore, contrary to the news and insinuations circulating about the e-CMR, the NPF wishes to categorically state that the e-CMR is not a profit-making platform but an initiative to digitize policing to increase efficiency and ensure the overall security of lives and properties of the Nigerian people.”

Adejobi said the Inspector General had ordered the immediate suspension, which he had previously imposed.

He stated: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an immediate suspension of the planned enforcement of the e-CMR, which was originally scheduled to commence on July 29, 2024. This is to provide ample opportunity for widespread awareness and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in addressing the problem of vehicular crime as well as protecting vehicle ownership by individuals and businesses.”

Adejobi appealed for citizens’ understanding and participation in the initiative.

He warned police officials against requesting the eCMR certificate from vehicle owners, adding that anyone caught doing so would be penalized.

Adejobi added: “Against this backdrop, we appeal to all Nigerians and residents of good intentions for their understanding and support in using the e-CMR system. In this spirit, the IGP calls on all police officers to stop requesting e-CMR certificates as persons who extort or exploit members of the public under the pretext of not having e-CMR certificates will be punished accordingly as enforcement, which will only be carried out by officers designated for the purpose, has been suspended until further notice.”