IGP suspends controversial e-CMR enforcement scheduled for July 29

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an immediate suspension of the enforcement of the Electronic Motor Vehicle Register (e-CMR) scheduled to commence on July 29.

The Armed Forces Press Secretary, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Adejobi said the suspension should provide ample opportunity to educate and inform the public on the process, benefits and effectiveness of e-CMR.

The police spokesman said the IG had asked police officers to refrain from requiring e-CMR certificates.

According to him, officials noted that blackmailing or exploiting the public under the pretext of not having an e-CMR certificate would be punished with sanctions.

Adejobi said enforcement would only be carried out by special officers from a date to be announced.

He said the e-CMR was designed to address the challenges of vehicle crime and protect private and business vehicle ownership.

Adejobi said the registration would help collect data entered into the system by vehicle owners and use this to flag 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.

“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.

“In addition, it will add value to the national database and incident reporting portal of other ministries, departments and agencies in terms of overall security,” he said.

According to him, contrary to the news and allegations circulating about e-CMR, the Nigerian Police would like to categorically state that e-CMR is not a revenue generating platform.

He said the platform was an initiative to digitize policing to increase efficiency and overall security of lives and property of the Nigerian people.

The police spokesman asked all Nigerians and well-intentioned residents for their understanding and assistance in registering with the e-CMR system.

DAILY POST reports that the IG had ordered the enforcement of the digitized e-CMR
from July 29th.