The Lagos State Police Command has issued a stern reminder to vehicle owners and drivers that covering number plates is illegal. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, highlighted on X.com that this practice violates the National Road Traffic Regulations.
Hundeyin emphasized, “Covering of number plates is against the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations. When convicted, punishment ranges from fines to prison terms. Ignorance is not an excuse under the law. Above all, forewarned is forearmed!”
He shared excerpts from the regulations, which stipulate that number plates must be clearly visible both during the day and at night. The regulation states, “Each Identification Number Plate must be reflective and so made that any letter, numeral or other identifying mark displayed on it are legible at day time and at night in clear weather and must be visible and recognizable at a distance of not less than 60 metres by the driver of the immediate following vehicle and in the case of motorcycle at a distance of 30 metres.”
All vehicles, whether private or commercial, must display their Vehicle Identification Number Plates, and failure to do so constitutes an offence.
In December 2023, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, reiterated that while it is mandatory for all vehicles to be duly registered and have their registration numbers visible at all times, there are exceptions for “pennant officers” and heads of the three arms of government, who use pennants or flags on their official cars.
