The Nigerian Police Force has suspended the electronic central motor registry registration process (e-CMR), a proposed database criticised as an illegal revenue-generating scheme.
Last Saturday, the Police announced the commencement of the e-CMR in which vehicle owners would register their vehicles with N5,375. It stated that the move was part of efforts to curb vehicle theft and crime in the country.
After the NPF made the announcement, many Nigerians on Social media criticised it as illegal and a possible enabler of police brutality.
Following public criticism, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued on Sunday, disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the suspension of the scheme.
He added that the suspension is informed by a need to sensitise the public on 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.”
In his statement, Adejobi explained that the e-CMR was expected to provide a firsthand database to the force for curbing vehicular crimes and prevent multiple registrations of vehicles.
On the allegation that it is merely a revenue-generating scheme, the PPRO 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 digitalise policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.”
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