BREAKING: Senior police officer Tunji Disu has ordered the arrest of motorists driving without number plates or deliberately covering their vehicle registrations.
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Tunji Disu, a senior officer of the Nigeria Police Force, has directed police personnel to arrest anyone driving without a number plate or covering their vehicle’s registration plate. He said criminals have increasingly used concealed number plates to commit offences and evade identification.
According to Disu, the practice of covering number plates has gradually become a status symbol among some motorists despite the security risks it poses. He warned that the trend makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace vehicles involved in criminal activities.
Speaking on the issue, Disu said, “A lot of crimes have been committed by people covering their number plates, and they have turned into a status symbol. I have directed police officers to arrest anyone without number plates or covering their number plates.”
Security experts have repeatedly raised concerns over the growing number of vehicles on Nigerian roads with hidden or missing registration plates. Law enforcement agencies often rely on vehicle identification numbers and registration details during investigations involving robbery, kidnapping and other offences.
The police and other security agencies have in recent years intensified efforts to enforce traffic and vehicle registration regulations as part of broader measures to tackle crime. Authorities have also encouraged motorists to comply with registration laws to improve public safety and aid criminal investigations.
The development means motorists who drive without number plates or deliberately conceal them may face increased scrutiny and possible arrest. It also signals a renewed push by law enforcement agencies to curb crimes linked to unregistered and unidentified vehicles across Nigeria.
