- Says It’s Not a Revenue Generating Initiative
By Halimah Olamide
The Police Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun has suspended the enforcement of the electronic central motor registry (e-cmr).
The police boss said the initiative, which enforcement was originally billed to commence on July 29, was not to genrate revenues for the govermment or the police.
He said the initiative was desigjed to “provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets.”
The directive from Egbetokun came on the same day the Nigerian Bar Association asked the police to stop the implementation saying it amounts to another form of levy on already allegedly over-taxed Nigerians.NBA, through it President, had argued that Nigerians are undergoing a most trying time of economic hardship noting that the e-cmr would add to their current precarious situations.
Indeed, the NBA president, Yakubu Maikyau SAN, had hinted of the association’s nreadiness to take the matter up with the police boss or the presidency to stop the enforcement.
In a statement signed by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman of the police late Sunday, confirmed the suspension of the enforcement.
“This is to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership,” the police said
He said the Police has deemed it necessary to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative which is designed to ensure the safety and security of all types of vehicles including motorcycles by collating data imputed into the system by vehicle owners and acting on such to flag the vehicles if reported stolen.
“The e-CMR will provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets. Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple registration of vehicles and serve as a database to collate biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security,” the statement added
The police said contrary to news making the round and insinuations about the e-CMR, “the NPF wishes to state categorically that the e-CMR is not a revenue generating platform but an initiative to digitalize policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.”
He said members of the public can obtain the digitalized CMR certificate online at cmris.npf.gov.ng. The police said individuals can also contact the 24/7 hotline (02018870133), CMR Command Centre at FHQ Abuja (08117777666, 09169892000) and FHQ Annex Lagos (08117777555, 09169891000). T
He added that technical support is also available at cmrtech@npfcmr.ng.
“In light of this, we seek the understanding and support of all well-meaning Nigerians and residents to key into the e-CMR system. In the same vein, the IGP charges all Police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement which will be done by only dedicated officers has been suspended till further notice.”