Tobias Sylvester
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate suspension of the issuance of tinted glasses and SPY number plates’ permits for vehicles across the country.
IGP Baba disclosed this at a conference with Strategic Commanders of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday, in Abuja.
He said SPY number plates were for official use of some categories of corporate bodies, while tinted glasses permits were issued on the platform of some statutory regulations.
According to him, several individuals have of late, turned the use of SPY number plates and tinted glasses into status symbols and have fraudulently obtained such.
“Accordingly, henceforth, the issuance of SPY number plates and tinted glasses permits are hereby suspended.
“The existing authorisations are being reviewed and a protocol to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.
“In due course, an enforcement mechanism that will enforce the standardised process of issuance of SPY plate numbers and tinted glasses will be implemented across the country, “he said.
Baba said the Nigeria Police would work closely with the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Commission for effective implementation.
He said that the practice of some motorists covering their plate numbers, was inhibiting law enforcement operations in the country and would not be tolerated.
He, therefore, called on the commissioners of police across the country to ensure that motorists involved in the covering of their plate numbers were arrested.
This comes three days after the Police Council confirmed the appointment Mr Usman Alkali Baba as the nation’s substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
