Police suspend controversial enforcement of electronic vehicle registers

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has suspended the enforcement of the electronic Central Register of Motor Vehicles (e-CMR) for vehicle owners, which was originally scheduled to come into effect on July 29.

The decision came against the backdrop of widespread allegations that the initiative was a pretext for blackmailing the police.

Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi announced the execution date on Saturday, provoking strong reactions from citizens and lawyers.

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John Aikpokpo-Martins, chairman of the Public Interest and Development Law Section of the Nigerian Bar Association, condemned the directive, calling it a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

In a follow-up statement on Sunday, Adejobi confirmed the suspension and stressed the importance of educating the public about the e-CMR.

He explained that the aim of the initiative was to secure vehicles by maintaining a comprehensive database that would help police track down stolen vehicles and prevent duplicate registrations.

“The e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform but a tool to improve policing and public safety,” Adejobi explained.

The Inspector General has ordered an immediate halt to all enforcement efforts until further notice.

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He called on citizens to support the initiative and warned the police against requesting electronic CMR certificates from vehicle owners, threatening sanctions for those who exploit the public under the guise of the register.

According to Adejobi, the suspension is intended to ensure that the public is fully informed about the benefits and procedures of the e-CMR before its final implementation.