Police Back-down On Electronic Motor Registry Deadline

The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the deadline given for electronic central motor registry (e-CMR) registration.

Police had given a 14-day deadline, from July 12, to commence enforcement of the electronic central motor registry registration.

The police announcement was criticized by Nigerians and, the Nigerian Bar Association. Nigerians criticized that the move for enforcement was too sudden.

On Sunday, the Nigeria Police, in a statement said it has suspended the enforcement exercise indefinitely.

Police, in a statement signed by ACP Olumuwiya Adejobi, said the suspension was for the force to reconfigure the e-CMR.

Adejobi advised Nigerians to embrace the electronic central motor registry. He said the process would assist police and security agencies in combating vehicle theft and other crimes.

“The e-CMR initiative is designed to ensure the safety and security of all types of vehicles including motorcycles by collating data imputed into the system by vehicle owners and acting on such to flag the vehicles if reported stolen.

“The e-CMR will provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets. Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple registration of vehicles and serve as a database to collate biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security,” Police said.

Adejobi said the e-CMR was not designed for the police to generate revenue. He said with the suspension, through the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Nigerians would be educated on the need to support the police in its commitment to fight crimes.

“Furthermore, contrary to news making the round and insinuations about the e-CMR, the NPF wishes to state categorically that the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform but an initiative to digitalize policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.

“This is to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle-related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

“In light of this, we seek the understanding and support of all well-meaning Nigerians and residents to key into the e-CMR system. In the same vein, the IGP charges all Police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement which will be done by only dedicated officers has been suspended till further notice,” Adejobi added.