80% of vehicles in Nasarawa have no number plates

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State

Alhaji Usman Okposhi, acting Chairman, Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Service, has said that 80 per cent of vehicles in the state, including motorcycles, have no official number plates.

He disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders in the transport sector in Lafia on Wednesday.

Okposhi expressed sadness over the situation and blamed it on high level of ignorance and rascality on the part of vehicle and motorcycle owners in the state.

The acting chairman, who issued a one week ultimatum to those without registration, said stringent measures would be taken against them if they refused to take advantage of the opportunity to register.

Okposhi told NAN after the meeting that the ultimatum followed a resolution at the meeting with representatives of various transport unions.

Others include the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and religious bodies who all supported the one week ultimatum.

“We have resolved that on the 25th of August, all legal, law enforcement and security agents will take necessary action across the state to confiscate vehicles and motorcycles without number plates,” he said.

He explained that stakeholders at the meeting had also deliberated on ways of enforcing road tax laws, traffic rules and regulations among road users in the state to generate revenue.

Okposhi also noted that some unauthorised persons were still mounting road blocks in the state and extorting money from drivers as revenue.

Mr Sule Umar, Director, Motor Vehicle Administration, warned those involved to desist from the act or face the full wrath of the law.

Mallam Hassan Orume, state Chairman, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN), commended the initiator of the meeting and assured him of the union’s cooperation for the development of the state.

He, however, called on his members who had not registered their motorcycles to do so before the deadline.