FRSC Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Fake Number Plates
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched the second phase of its special intervention patrol, Operation Guduma, targeting motorists using fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates across the country.
The five-day enforcement exercise, scheduled to run from November 2 to 6, 2026, is aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and addressing security threats associated with the unlawful use of vehicle registration plates.
The operation, approved by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, will cover selected states, with specially designated senior officers deployed to coordinate and supervise the exercise.
According to the FRSC, the second phase builds on the outcome of the first operation conducted in May 2026, which resulted in 1,691 arrests across 11 states.
Of the total arrests, 1,003 motorists were apprehended for various number plate-related offences, while 683 were arrested for overloading and mixed-loading. Five other individuals were arrested for using fake diplomatic number plates.
The Corps said the renewed crackdown followed concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fraudulent vehicle registration plates, including concealed, defaced, obsolete and counterfeit diplomatic number plates.
It warned that vehicles operating with unidentifiable or fraudulent registration plates could provide cover for criminal activities by making it difficult for security agencies to identify vehicles, monitor their movements and conduct effective investigations.
Read Also:
The FRSC explained that Operation Guduma Phase Two was designed to complement national security efforts by strengthening vehicle identification, promoting accountability among motorists and preventing the misuse of registration irregularities to evade law enforcement.
Beyond the enforcement of number plate regulations, the operation will also focus on ensuring free-flowing traffic along designated highways, providing emergency rescue services and promptly clearing road obstructions.
Speaking on the exercise, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the Corps was determined to tackle practices that undermine road safety and national security.
He stressed that the use of fake, concealed, defaced or obsolete vehicle number plates would no longer be treated as a minor traffic violation, considering the wider implications for public safety and national security.
Mohammed urged motorists to ensure that their vehicle registration plates were genuine, valid, clearly visible and properly displayed, while calling on members of the public to cooperate with FRSC personnel during the enforcement exercise.
He also directed officers deployed for the operation to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, discipline and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens.
The Corps Marshal particularly cautioned personnel to handle engagements involving vehicles bearing diplomatic number plates with appropriate courtesy and in strict compliance with applicable diplomatic protocols.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to ensuring that vehicles operating on Nigerian roads are properly identifiable, warning motorists against exploiting registration irregularities to evade lawful accountability.
The operation forms part of the Corps’ broader efforts to improve road safety, strengthen traffic law enforcement and support national security through effective vehicle identification.
By PRNigeria
