The Nigeria Police Force has begun a nationwide enforcement campaign targeting vehicles operating with covered, obscured, altered, defaced, missing, or unregistered number plates as part of efforts to boost security and combat crime.
The operation, ordered by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, is designed to improve vehicle identification, enhance public safety, and prevent criminals from using untraceable vehicles to evade law enforcement.
In Kogi State, the police command announced the commencement of a statewide exercise against vehicles displaying covered, obscured, unauthorised, defaced, or absent registration plates.
According to a statement issued by police spokesperson ASP Afusat Oyiza, Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and traffic personnel to ensure strict compliance across the state.
She warned that any vehicle found violating the regulations would be impounded and investigated in line with existing laws. Motorists, transport operators, and fleet owners were advised to ensure their number plates remain valid, visible, and properly displayed, while keeping all vehicle documents updated and available for inspection.
The Delta State Police Command also announced a similar enforcement operation targeting vehicles with concealed, altered, unreadable, or missing registration plates.
In a statement signed by police spokesperson SP Bright Edafe, the command said the measure was aimed at strengthening security and improving the ability of law enforcement agencies to trace vehicles linked to criminal activities.
“The command notes that vehicles without registration number plates or those deliberately concealed pose a significant security risk, as they are often difficult to trace and may be exploited by criminal elements to evade detection,” the statement said.
Motorists were advised to remove any frame, sticker, cover, or device obstructing the visibility of their registration plates and ensure vehicles without proper registration are regularised immediately.
Delta State Commissioner of Police Olufemi Oyeniyi instructed officers across the state to strictly enforce the directive, warning that offending vehicles would be impounded and subjected to legal procedures.
In Rivers State, Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju personally supervised enforcement operations in Port Harcourt and surrounding areas.
Accompanied by traffic officers and senior police officials, Adepoju monitored compliance at key locations, including GRA Junction on Aba Road and Ikwerre Road. Several violators were arrested and subsequently arraigned before a mobile court.
Speaking during the operation, Adepoju said intelligence reports showed that vehicles with concealed or unregistered number plates were frequently used in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and the movement of illegal weapons.
“Vehicles operating without registration plates or with covered or obscured number plates will be impounded and their owners sanctioned accordingly,” he said.
He emphasised that visible registration plates remain essential for crime investigation, vehicle recovery, and the identification of suspects involved in criminal acts and traffic-related offences.
The Rivers police chief also warned officers against extorting motorists during the exercise and instructed that enforcement be carried out professionally.
Adepoju further clarified that the existing restriction on tricycles and motorcycles operating between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. does not apply to minibuses commonly known as Keke buses.
“We do not want to inconvenience members of the public. Therefore, Keke buses are allowed to operate after 10 p.m., although they will be closely monitored by security personnel. The restriction applies only to tricycles and motorcycles,” he said.
According to him, security intelligence indicated that tricycles and motorcycles were frequently exploited by “one-chance” robbery gangs, prompting the operational restrictions.