e-CMR: Nigerian police bow to pressure and stop enforcement against vehicle owners

In response to public criticism and demands, the Nigerian police announced that they would suspend enforcement of the controversial e-CMR for vehicle owners.

Persecondnews recalls that the police had planned to start enforcement on July 29 with sanctions against vehicle owners who do not have the e-CMR.

In addition to Nigerians’ criticism of the e-CMR, lawyers under the aegis of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) gave the police a week’s deadline to reverse the decision, arguing that it was not the police’s job to issue it.

But police spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, defended the police’s decision to issue the e-certificate to paying vehicle owners.

According to him, Police General Kayode Egbetokun has suspended the enforcement of the certificate to make room for greater “education of Nigerians”.

The statement, which was seen by Persecondnews, reads: “As the IGP orders the suspension of the execution proceedings, a comprehensive information campaign is being conducted among the Nigerian people

“Following the reconfiguration and implementation of the Central Electronic Motor Vehicle Registration (e-CMR) process, the Police have deemed it necessary to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative, which 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 when they are reported 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 registration of vehicles and serve as a database to collect biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and accident reporting portal being created by other ministries, departments and agencies for general safety.

“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 money-making platform but an initiative to digitize policing to increase efficiency and overall security of lives and properties of the Nigerian people.

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the planned enforcement of the e-CMR, originally scheduled to commence on July 29, 2024.

“This is intended to give all citizens and residents sufficient opportunity to obtain comprehensive information and education on the approach, advantages and effectiveness in solving the problem of vehicle crime and on the protection of the vehicle assets of private individuals and companies.

“The public is urged to obtain the digitized CMR certificate online at cmris.npf.gov.ng. For further queries, individuals may contact the 24/7 hotline (02018870133), CMR Command Centre at FHQ Abuja (08117777666, 09169892000) and FHQ Annex Lagos (08117777555, 09169891000). Technical support is also available at [email protected].”