Nigerians accuse police of extortion, express displeasure over Motor Vehicle Information certificate

Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express their annoyance over the newly introduced Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) certificate being issued directly by the Nigeria Police Force.

Also read: NBA-SPIDEL urges immediate halt to unauthorized issuance of CMRIS certificates by Nigeria police force

This comes after the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest (NBA-SPIDEL) raised concerns over the mandate for vehicle owners to register and obtain CMRIS certificates at a cost of no less than ₦6,000. The association questions the legal authority for such issuance, asserting that it lacks a clear legal basis.

In an attempt to inform the public about the correct way to acquire the certificates, the Force Public Relations Officer, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, shared a sample copy of the certificate and some additional updates.

“This is the sample of the Motor Vehicle Information Certificate issued by the CMR for vehicles registered in the CMR database.

“For inquiries, the following numbers can be called: 09169895000 and 09169894000. You can also use the QR code on it. Don’t pay any policeman on the road. You can register online at your comfort. Thanks,” he wrote.

In their reactions, Nigerians claimed that it is a duplication and an attempt by the police to extort them.

According to many respondents, there is no information on the certificate that many Nigerian car owners have not already provided to Vehicle Inspection Officers and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

“Please, Prince, we know you mean well, but can you inform your colleagues that this is not necessary? There is no data here that you cannot get from VIO or RoadSafety database. You are law enforcement. You can cooperate with FRSC and VIO for this data,” @DrConztant wrote.

While agreeing with @DrConztant, Ovie Ukochovwera (@Ovis1302) wrote, “That should be the standard practice. There should be synergy between all paramilitary bodies in Nigeria.”

Rauf Adegboye said, “Every government agency just thinks about extortions from the public.”

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.