The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the suspension of the proposed enforcement of the Electronic Central Motor Registry Registration Process (e-CMR), which was initially scheduled to begin on July 29, 2024.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the relaxation of enforcement is intended to allow for extensive public enlightenment on the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative. The e-CMR is designed to enhance the safety and security of all vehicles, including motorcycles, by collating data input by vehicle owners and acting on it to flag stolen vehicles, among other uses. The statement emphasized that the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform but an initiative to digitalize policing for improved effectiveness and the general safety of lives and property of Nigerian residents.
The IGP urged the public to obtain the digitalized CMR certificate online and warned all police officers to desist from requesting e-CMR certificates. He stated that officers found extorting or exploiting the public under the pretense of enforcing the e-CMR would be sanctioned accordingly.
This suspension follows an ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest to Egbetokun, demanding an immediate reversal of the directive. The directive had required vehicle owners across the country to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate at a cost of no less than ₦6,000.
NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun, in a letter to the IGP, questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force's issuance of the CMRIS Certificates. They stated that no law granted the police authority to issue such licenses or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices. They demanded an immediate halt to the issuance and enforcement of the CMRIS Certificates, urging the IGP to stop the practice nationwide. The association also called for the shutdown of the registration website and physical registration centers, with refunds to those who had already paid.
