The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered a nationwide enforcement operation against vehicles operating without registration number plates or with concealed, altered, and defaced plate numbers.
Disu warned that such practices pose a serious threat to public safety and national security.
The directive was issued on Tuesday during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Addressing Commissioners of Police, Tactical Commanders, and Heads of Formations, the IGP described the growing trend of vehicles without proper registration or with deliberately obscured number plates as unlawful.
He emphasized that vehicle registration remains a critical tool for crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and law enforcement. “Criminal elements often exploit anonymous vehicles to perpetrate offences and evade detection,” Disu said.
Consequently, all Police Commands nationwide have been directed to immediately commence enforcement operations.
“Any vehicle found without approved registration plates or with tampered registration details will be stopped, impounded, and subjected to the appropriate legal processes in accordance with extant laws,” the statement said.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, who issued the statement, said there will be no preferential treatment during the operation. The IGP urged all vehicle owners to ensure full compliance with registration requirements.
The Nigeria Police Force said the directive aligns with its commitment to strengthening public safety, supporting national security objectives, and enforcing all lawful measures designed to prevent crime and protect citizens.
The crackdown comes amid rising concerns over the use of unmarked vehicles in kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the country. Security experts have long identified vehicle registration and traceability as key to tracking criminal movements and aiding investigations.
Motorists are advised to ensure their vehicles carry valid, clearly visible number plates issued by the appropriate authorities to avoid arrest and impoundment.
