| By Rasheed Bisiriyu | |
| Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 |
The Federal Road Safety Corps is to commence the issuance of new vehicle number plates this month in its renewed determination to harmonise all existing modes of licensing of vehicles nationwide.
The FRSC, which said Nigeria was currently losing over N15bn annually to vendors of fake vehicle licences, also planned to introduce a new driving licence, with new security features, to make it difficult for fraudsters to continue to forge the document.
A statement by the corps on Monday said that the new plates would be attached to vehicle owners with an identification tag bearing the number affixed to the windscreen for ease of security checks.
It quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Mr. Osita Chidoka, as saying the new vehicle number plates formed part of corps’ strategies towards restoring order and sanity in the nation’s motor vehicle administration scheme.
On the features of the number plate, the Corps Marshal said that beside the improved security features, the number plates would come with bolder embossed character and the 50th Nigerian anniversary commemorative logo.
Chidoka also said that the FRSC had completed an upgrade of its Lagos production plant, especially in information and communications technology to ensure a hitch-free unveiling of the number plate.
Other measures for the smooth production of the new number plates, according to him, are the establishment of two new plants in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, and Awka in Anambra State; cleaning up and updating of central database on motor vehicles in Nigeria.
To pave the way for the new arrangement, Chidoka said that the corps had initiated a quality management system and total overhaul of the national vehicle identification scheme, which would require vehicle owners to exchange their present number plates for the new ones.
The statement was, however, silent on when the FRSC would commence the new driving licence.
The corps marshal had earlier said that the new regime would take effect from April this year.
He said that the organisation was disturbed by the growing number of syndicates engaged in the illegal production of driving licences and other vehicle documents.
The FRSC chief executive added that drivers below 25 years would be required to renew their provisional driving licences until they clocked 25. Similarly, those above 65 years would undergo strict verification every year at states’ vehicle inspection offices before being issued with the licence.
He, however, warned that any driver under 25 years would not be allowed to drive at night.
“On those under 25, they will be issued with graduate licences and they are renewable annually until they get to the required age. And the current one is for three years, just like the one we now use. The new regime we want to roll out is even more advanced than what they use in some European countries,” he noted.
Chidoka said that the new driving licence would cost N6,000; while vehicle owners would pay N15,000 for a new number plate, each of which could be processed online or manually.
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011080325884
It should be the different States’ responsibility to issue plate number and license. This system will not work or last. Revenue from this exercise to individual state will go a long way in making the states’ roads passable and well maintained. Imagine how many measures the FRSC had introduced on plate number and driver license.
ReplyDeleteIs this your way of improving the economy by impoverishing the masses?
ReplyDeleteIts a big shame on our leasers that they always make unnecessary noise on issues and misplace their priorities. Instead of ensuring that the Federal Govt and its releavant agencies reconstruct and rehabilitate all our major roads that have become dead traps over the years, the FRSC boss is concerned with plate numbers. What does this have to do with safety on our roads? What a shallow idea?
ReplyDeleteAnother way to exthortion.Why will a number plate go for N15,000? Give us the cost of producing one number plate? Can an average Nigerian bear this at this time? Mr Chidoka and crew,what Nigerians want now is more than the New emborsed number plate!ber plate go for N15,000? Give us the cost of producing one number plate? Can an average Nigerian bear this at this time? Mr Chidoka and crew,what Nigerians want now is more than the New emborsed number plate!
ReplyDeleteFRSC are really doing their best. Notwitstanding, the Logo of Nigeria at 50 in the new plate numbet has no reasonable meanig but it’s just that the FRSC boss is not as busy as a bee. Let alone the existing logo because it’s ok. , the Logo of Nigeria at 50 in the new plate numbet has no reasonable meanig but it’s just that the FRSC boss is not as busy as a bee. Let alone the existing logo because it’s ok.
ReplyDeleteNigerian leaders always mix priorities. the issue of new number plate is not called for, all they need to do is to put up the records in a secured data base that is very functional and accessible to the authorities in any part of the country, regularise and put checks/balances . the same thing goes with the drivers licence . as per the 25 year licence thing is completely absurd, they act as if the never gone to school. do they know that a 25 year can be CEO of a multinational corporation.
ReplyDeleteFRSC THIEVES UNDER THE GUISE OF GOVERMENT THIS IS GOVERNMENT ARMED ROBBERY AND EXTORTION DESIGNED TO RIP OF NIGERIANS TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS
ReplyDeleteif number plates are changed, what happens to vehicle particulars that already bear the old number? how will our stop and check police men reconcile the difference in number plate and number on vehicle partiCOLA?
ReplyDeleteKudos to FRSC for this initiatives,but I dont this its reasonable for a plate NUmber to be a shigh as #15,000.00.Moreso,how long will take the “Boys” to come out with theirs to swindle unsespecting Nigerians because I know it will become man kno man to get this new plates,So FRSC should look into the possibility of reduction and adequate public elightenment of the scheme.
ReplyDeleteN15,000 for number plate? are you joking? You could not implement and enforce the use of crash helmets for motorcycles which is sold for about 5,000 now you want car owners to pay 15,000 for number plates. Another failed project in the making.
ReplyDeletenigeria nigeria is time for all to wake up ,this most not go ahead ,we have better things to develop and not plate number frsc can ajust the old in a new system
ReplyDeleteIf you are still uncertain about this process then its probably a better idea to go down to your local mechanic or car body shop and offer one of the lads 20 pounds to fit the Number platesfor you. It should only take him half an hour and you will probably find that he will supply any new plastic caps or screws that may be required.
ReplyDelete