JUST IN: Inspector-General of Police bans use of SPY number plates

The inspector-general of police, Usman Alkali Baba has banned the use of supernumerary police (SPY) vehicle number plates across the country with immediate effect.

According to a statement from the police headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the ban is without exception — “irrespective of whether it is authorised or not”.

The IGP said all authorisations are also revoked indefinitely.

The SPY Police vehicle plate number was legitimately designed to give security privileges to legitimate businesses in Nigeria in their day to day activities in the movement of staff, equipment and VIPs.

The IGP has however cited wanton abuse of these privileges especially incessant traffic violations (amid reports of criminal elements gaining access to such plate numbers) as a key reason for the ban.

Below is the full statement:

INTERNAL SECURITY: IGP BANS USE OF SPY NUMBER PLATES NATIONWIDE

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, has ordered a total ban on all use of Police SPY Vehicle Number Plates by vehicle owners across the states of the federation without exceptions. This is irrespective of whether it is authorized, or not, as all authorizations are hereby revoked indefinitely.

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.

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.

The IGP however warned that while carrying out these 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.

CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI mnipr, mipra
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA
July 14, 2022