AWKA/Nigeria: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a strategic intervention patrol operation, codenamed “Operation Guduma,” aimed at curbing the use of fake diplomatic and government number plates as well as tackling overloading on roads across the country.
The initiative was unveiled in Awka on Monday by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, who was represented at the event by Assistant Corps Marshal and Head of the Transport Union Coordination Unit, Oko Etuali.
Mohammed said the operation became necessary following the discovery that many individuals had resorted to using fake ambassadorial and diplomatic number plates while operating on Nigerian roads, a development he described as a growing security concern.
According to him, the increasing misuse of official government number plates amid prevailing security challenges in the country posed serious risks that required urgent intervention.
“We discovered that most people are faking ambassadorial or diplomatic number plates and using them to ply the roads,” the Corps Marshal said.
“Considering the insecurity in the country, the corps launched this strategic intervention patrol to ensure that all those using fake ambassadorial number plates and other illegal government number plates are brought to book,” he added.
Mohammed explained that the FRSC was statutorily empowered to design and produce vehicle number plates, while the responsibility for issuing official number plates to government officials, including lawmakers, rested with state governments.
He noted that the corps only played an advisory role to state governments regarding the withdrawal of number plates issued to public office holders after the expiration of their tenure.
“Most of the time, during handover processes or change of government, many former officials fail to return the number plates issued to them,” he stated.
He further disclosed that official number plates issued to government functionaries carry expiry dates, making it easier for authorities to identify expired or illegally retained plates.
The FRSC boss revealed that Operation Guduma had already commenced in some states across the country, adding that the enforcement exercise in Anambra and Enugu states would run between May 18 and May 22.
Beyond the crackdown on fake number plates, Mohammed said the corps was also intensifying efforts to address the menace of overloading through its newly established Transport Union Coordination Unit.
He said the unit had commenced sensitisation campaigns in motor parks aimed at educating transport operators and drivers on the dangers associated with overloading passengers and goods.
“The mentality of many drivers is that the more passengers or goods they load, the more money they make, without considering the safety of other road users,” he said.
He warned that the FRSC would move from sensitisation to full enforcement after the awareness campaign, stressing that drivers caught violating loading regulations would face sanctions.
“After the enlightenment campaign, we will move to enforcement and any driver caught overloading will be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent and reduce the menace on our roads,” Mohammed stated.
