Abdul-Lateef Bello, the director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)’s Vehicle Inspection Office, has banned VIO personnel from forcibly removing number plates of traffic offenders.

A spokesperson for VIO, Kalu Emetu, who disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, said the order was part of the agency’s ongoing reforms.

“Removal of plate numbers from vehicles is out of fashion, and the territory remains a model city in Nigeria. Officers are called to discharge their duties professionally, as this will go a long way to determine the respect an officer will receive from residents and motorists,” Mr Emetu said.

Mr Emetu said Mr Bello gave the directive while presenting the new operational order to personnel of the office recently.

He added that the VIO officers had instead been directed to use their telephone cameras to capture the number plates of such vehicles.

He also mentioned that the number plate should be sent to the directorate’s control room, saddled with the responsibility to fine defaulters through telephone or email messages.

“The ban is in line with the world’s best traffic regulation practices,” the VIO official stated.

 (NAN)