Lagos tackles police, FRSC, others over authenticity of vehicle number plates

The Lagos State government has decried a situation whereby vehicles duly registered with state number plates were being impounded by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security officials, describing the development as worrisome and embarrassing.

According to the government, the situation is “worrisome and embarrassing to the state government and its clients when incessant reports, calls, SMS, e-mails and visits from Licensees became rampant that vehicles duly registered with Lagos State number plates were being impounded by FRSC and other security officials.”

General Manager, Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (LASMVAA), Mr. Lateef Lawal, expressed this concern on Friday in a statement made available by the Agency’s spokesperson, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo.

He said consequently, the Agency had put in place a website through which motorists and FRSC and other law enforcement Agencies can henceforth confirm the authenticity and genuineness of number plates of vehicles to avoid such ugly occurrence.

Lawal said the establishment of the website was in line with the Smart City initiative of the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

According to Lawal, by visiting the website, motorists as well as law enforcement Agencies can henceforth confirm the authenticity and genuineness of number plates issued by the Agency, saying the platform became necessary in order to eradicate the unnecessary harassment of some of the licensees by the police, FRSC and other security agencies.

Lawal, therefore, enjoined the general public, particularly the motorists, FRSC and other security agencies to visit the LASMVAA’s website on www.lsmvaapvs.org to verify the authenticity and genuineness of number plates issued by the MVAA.

The general manager, who assured that the site was easy to navigate, once logged in, equally enjoined motorists to comply with driving rules and make sure that their vehicles’ particulars were up to date to avoid been penalized by the authorities concerned.