The Federal Road Safety Corps corps marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has directed the immediate clampdown on the proliferation of fake diplomatic and other unauthorised number plates.

Mr Mohammed announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

The FRSC boss said the directive had become necessary in line with his administration’s proactive approach towards enhancing national security.

He said that suspected criminals fraudulently produced these identified number plates, as they were neither produced by any of the production plants of the FRSC in the country nor issued by the Motor Licensing Authorities of states.

“The identified fake and unauthorised number plates include but are not limited to, those with the following inscriptions: ‘DIPLOMATIC NUMBER PLATES, NYCN, PEACE AMBASSADOR, NAUS, CYMS, UN-UNITY 01, UN-AMB, NANS among others,” he said.

Therefore, The FRSC chief approved the immediate commencement of tactical enforcement across all corps formations.

He said this was to ensure the speedy arrest and impoundment of all vehicles on Nigerian roads with the identified fake number plates.

“By this notice, the public is hereby cautioned that these fake and unauthorised number plates are mostly used for nefarious and criminal activities,” said the FRSC statement. “Members of the public who are presently using such vehicle identifications are by this publication warned to immediately discontinue the use of these fake and unauthorised plates as defaulters will be prosecuted.”

He added that FRSC would collaborate with other security agencies to uncover the sources of the fake number plates for necessary apprehension and prosecution.

(NAN)