By Augustine Ehikioya
In efforts to fight insecurity in the country, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a total ban on the use of Police SPY Vehicle Number Plates by vehicle owners across Nigeria.
The ban is without exceptions as all authorizations, according to the directive, are revoked indefinitely.
The directive stressed that the ban will not respect whether the plate number was earlier authorized or not.
These were revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “This order is necessary to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY Police number plates.
“The IGP has therefore directed that Police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order.”
The statement added “Meanwhile, the IGP has directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to give full effect to the directives as contained above.
“The IGP specifically directed the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use are confiscated henceforth but the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are Police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.”
But the IGP warned that while carrying out the assignments, officers must ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices.
“Other security agencies and members of the public are enjoined to cooperate with the Police in this regard as the moves are aimed at strengthening our internal security,” the statement concluded.