It is viewed as an additional tax burden by Nigerians weighed down by the impact of the current government’s policies. But with a potential ₦63.8billion to be earned by the police annually from this scheme, the desire to impose this tax will not go away soon.

Nigeria is reported to have an estimated 11.9million vehicles currently plying its roads. These vehicles are cash cows for many agencies at both the federal and sub-national levels. With each vehicle paying ₦5,375 annually to be on the Nigerian Police electronic central motor registry registration process (e-CMR), the body stands to earn a cool ₦63.8billion yearly, effectively making it one of the biggest revenue-generating agencies of government.

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This has raised umbrage among Nigerians. The anger was channelled through the Nigerian Bar Association which went to court to stop the police from losing focus on security to becoming another income-focused establishment.

John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun, chairman and secretary, respectively of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) had in January sued the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to halt the implementation of the scheme. They described as illegal the issuance of the e-CMR certificate. The lawyers asserted that no law grants the police the right to generate revenue.

The lawyers stated that the constitution, the Police Act, or any other law does not give the Nigeria Police the right, power, or authority to maintain a motor registry nor issue certificates of identification or proof/evidence of ownership called the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate (or in any other name called) to Nigerians.

Nigerian Police have felt the widespread anger its quest to impose an additional burden on Nigerians was generating. Its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) released a statement yesterday announcing the suspension of the enforcement of the motor tax.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024. This is to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle-related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

The police spokesman went further to highlight the other benefits of the scheme. The e-CMR will provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets. Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple [registrations] of vehicles and serve as a database to collate biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security.

The police force is not after money but keeping people safe, said ACP Adejobi. Furthermore, contrary to news making the round and insinuations about the e-CMR, the NPF wishes to state categorically that the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform but an initiative to digitalise policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.

PRESS RELEASE
E-CMR: POLICE HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS, EFFICIENCY OF APPLICATION TO CURB VIOLENT CRIMES

As IGP Orders Suspension of Enforcement Process, Massive Enlightenment of Nigerian Residents

Following the reconfiguration and commencement of the electronic central motor registry… pic.twitter.com/lo6XngOEH2

— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) July 14, 2024

If the suit filed by NBA-SPIDEL succeeds, many Nigerians [will] breathe a sigh of relief. The major peg of their suit is urging the court to issue an order directing the defendants (Nigerian Police Force) to dismantle the Central Motor Registry Information System and stop the issuance of the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate.

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Adewole Ojo

Adewole Ojo is the Editor-in-Chief of Meiza Nigeria. He can be reached on adewole.ojo@fourpoints.ng.