The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has launched a nationwide enforcement operation against fake diplomatic and unauthorized number plates, warning that offenders will face arrest, vehicle impoundment and prosecution as security concerns continue to rise across Nigeria.
The special operation, code-named “Operation Guduma,” was officially flagged off on Monday as the FRSC intensified efforts to curb the growing use of fraudulent vehicle identification linked to criminal activities and impersonation.
Speaking during the inauguration of the operation in Awka, Anambra State, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the agency had uncovered widespread abuse of diplomatic and government-issued number plates by unauthorised persons.
Mohammed, represented by the Head of the Transport Union Coordination Unit, Oko Etuali, said the trend had become a major security concern.
“We discovered that most people are faking ambassadorial or diplomatic number plates and using them to ply the roads,” he 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.”
The FRSC said the operation would target fake diplomatic plates as well as several other unauthorised tags and identities illegally mounted on vehicles across the country.
In a separate statement issued on Monday by the Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the agency listed some of the illegal plates already identified on Nigerian roads.
According to the statement, the fake inscriptions include “Diplomatic Number Plates,” “NYCN,” “Peace Ambassador,” “NAUS,” “CYMS,” “UN-Unity 01,” “UN-AMB,” and “NANS,” among others.
The FRSC clarified that such plates were neither produced at the agency’s official number plate plants nor issued through any recognised state motor licensing authority.
Officials warned that many of the plates were being used by criminals to evade security checks and perpetrate illegal activities.
As part of the nationwide enforcement drive, the FRSC said all vehicles found using fake or unauthorised number plates would be impounded immediately, while owners and users would face prosecution.
The corps also disclosed plans to work closely with other security agencies to identify and dismantle the networks responsible for producing and distributing the fake plates.
The operation is also expected to extend beyond diplomatic plates to include checks on vehicle overloading, a practice the FRSC says continues to contribute to road crashes and fatalities nationwide.
Mohammed said the newly established Transport Union Coordination Unit had already commenced sensitisation campaigns at motor parks to educate drivers and transport operators on the dangers of 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 added that after the public enlightenment phase, full enforcement would begin, with sanctions imposed on violators to serve as deterrence.
The FRSC noted that government-issued number plates allocated to lawmakers and public office holders often come with expiration dates, but many former officials fail to return them after leaving office.
According to the agency, this loophole has contributed to the misuse and recycling of official plates by unauthorised individuals.
The operation has already commenced in some states, with enforcement activities scheduled to run in Anambra and Enugu states from May 18 to May 22.
Security analysts say the crackdown reflects growing concern among authorities over the use of fake vehicle identities by kidnappers, fraud syndicates and other criminal networks operating across the country.
The FRSC urged members of the public to report suspicious vehicles using fake diplomatic or government plates to law enforcement agencies, warning that no offender would be spared.
