Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has issued a sweeping directive to all police formations across the country, ordering the immediate impoundment of any vehicle found without a valid number plate or with its registration number deliberately concealed, defaced, or tampered with. The announcement, made in a press statement released on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, marks a significant escalation in the force’s strategy to combat the use of untraceable vehicles by criminals, kidnappers, and other offenders who rely on anonymity to evade justice.
According to the statement, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP expressed grave concern over the rising incidence of motorists who operate vehicles without proper registration or who intentionally obscure their number plates to avoid identification. “This practice is unlawful, irresponsible, and a growing threat to public safety and national security,” the IGP said. “Criminals, kidnappers, and other offenders often exploit untraceable vehicles to carry out their nefarious activities, and the Nigeria Police Force will no longer tolerate such acts of impunity.”
The IGP noted that from today, enforcement has been directed across all commands, with strict orders that any vehicle found without valid registration or with tampered or hidden plates will be stopped, impounded, and subjected to legal procedures. He emphasized that every vehicle operating on Nigerian roads must be properly registered and must display its approved registration number in accordance with the law. “Any vehicle found without number plates or with deliberately obscured, concealed, or tampered registration number will be stopped, impounded, and subjected to the appropriate legal process,” the statement read.
The directive applies to all categories of vehicles, including private cars, commercial buses, tricycles, and motorcycles. The police said that the enforcement is not aimed at harassing law‑abiding citizens but at denying criminals the operational cover they currently enjoy. “Vehicle registration is not just administrative,” the IGP stressed. “It is a key tool for crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and national security.” He added that the police have the authority to verify the ownership and registration status of any vehicle on the road, and that citizens have a corresponding duty to comply with the law.
All Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as tactical commanders and heads of formations, have been directed to intensify enforcement operations nationwide. The IGP issued a clear warning that there will be no preferential treatment or selective enforcement, regardless of the status or position of the vehicle owner. “The law applies to everyone equally,” the statement quoted him as saying. “We will not entertain any form of name‑dropping or influence‑peddling. The safety of millions of Nigerians is not negotiable.”
The new directive comes in the wake of a series of high‑profile crimes in which suspects used vehicles with no plates or fake plates to evade security checks. In recent months, several incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping, and hit‑and‑run accidents have been linked to untraceable vehicles. In Abuja alone, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command reported that over 30 vehicles were impounded in a single week in June for violating registration laws, and several suspects were found to be using the vehicles to commit crimes. The police have also noted an increasing trend among luxury car owners who remove or tint their plates to avoid being identified by traffic cameras or spotted by patrol teams.
The Nigeria Police Force also disclosed that the enforcement would be carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to ensure seamless verification of vehicle documents. The FRSC has previously warned that driving without number plates is an offence under the National Road Traffic Regulations and is punishable by fines, community service, or imprisonment. The two agencies have agreed to share data and coordinate checkpoints to maximize the impact of the operation.
Reactions to the IGP’s directive have been mixed. Some road users have applauded the move, arguing that it will reduce the number of hit‑and‑run incidents and make it easier to trace vehicles used in crimes. “It is about time. For years, we have seen cars with no plates or fake plates moving freely, and you wonder if they are even registered,” said a commercial driver who identified himself as Mr. Emeka Okafor. Others, however, expressed concerns about potential harassment and extortion by police officers at checkpoints. Civil society groups have urged the police to ensure that the enforcement is carried out with professionalism and respect for the rule of law, and that innocent citizens who may have temporarily lost their number plates are not unduly penalized.
The police command has advised motorists whose number plates have been lost or damaged to immediately report to the nearest police station and obtain a police extract while they process a replacement from the relevant vehicle registration authority. Motorists are also encouraged to use temporary paper number plates as permitted by law while waiting for the permanent ones. The IGP has ordered that all impounded vehicles be taken to designated police yards and not to any private location, and that a detailed register of impounded vehicles be maintained at each command.
The enforcement is expected to begin immediately, with police patrol teams and traffic units already placed on alert. The directive also covers tinted glasses and illegal light bars, which are already banned in many states. The police said that any vehicle found with illegal tinted glass or unauthorized security lights would also be impounded pending verification.
As the enforcement takes effect, the Nigeria Police Force has appealed to the public for understanding and cooperation. The IGP reiterated that the initiative is part of the broader policing vision of the Inspector‑General, which emphasizes professionalism, intelligence‑driven policing, community partnership, and the protection of fundamental human rights. “We are not here to punish law‑abiding citizens,” the IGP said. “We are here to protect them. And one of the ways we do that is by ensuring that those who use our roads are accountable and identifiable.”
For the millions of Nigerians who use the roads daily, the new order means that from today, driving a vehicle without a number plate or with a hidden plate is no longer a minor infraction but a direct invitation to have the vehicle impounded. Whether this will reduce crime or simply create new bottlenecks at police checkpoints remains to be seen. But for the IGP, the calculation is simple: the right to drive on public roads is a privilege, and that privilege comes with the obligation to be seen and counted.
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