Insecurity: IGP orders enforcement against unregistered vehicles nationwide

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has ordered Commissioners of Police (CPs) to immediately intensify enforcement operations against unregistered vehicles and those with concealed registration numbers nationwide.

The IGP gave the order during his conference with the Strategic Police Managers, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police (CPs), in Abuja on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Disu said it was unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable to drive vehicles without registration number or whose number plates were deliberately concealed, defaced, covered, or altered in an attempt to evade identification.

Disu said: “We have observed an increasing number of vehicles being driven without registration number as well as vehicles whose number plates are deliberately concealed, defaced, covered, or altered in an attempt to evade identification.

“This practice is unlawful, irresponsible, and unacceptable and so, I wish to state unequivocally that from today, the Nigeria Police Force will no longer tolerate such act of impunity.

“Every vehicle operating on our roads must be properly registered and must display its approved registration number in accordance with the law.”

The IGP added that any vehicle found without number plates or with a deliberate obscured, concealed, or tampered registration number would be stopped, grounded, and subjected to the appropriate legal process.

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He said vehicle registration was not merely an administrative requirement, but a critical component of crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and national security.

According to him, criminals, kidnappers, terrorists, and other offenders often exploit unregistered vehicles to perpetrate crimes and evade detection.

The IGP stated: “All CPs, Tactical Commanders, and heads of formation are therefore directed to immediately intensify enforcement operations against unregistered vehicles, and those with concealed registration numbers.

“There shall be no preferential treatment or selective enforcement. The law must be applied equally to all, and anyone who chooses to disregard this directive will face the full consequences of the law.”

Disu enjoined all law-abiding citizens to ensure that their vehicles are clearly registered in compliant with the existing regulations.