Covering your number plates criminal offence – Police warns motorists

The Nigeria Police have said it is a criminal offence for motorists to cover their number plates without valid reasons.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement via his X handle on Friday.

He said it is mandatory to make registration numbers visible at all times.

Adejobi said, “It is a common thing to see many vehicle owners and drivers cover their number plates, for no reason, this is wrong and even criminal.

“You don’t cover your number plate for any reason. It is important and compulsory for all vehicles to be duly registered, so it’s compulsory to make reg. numbers visible at all times.”

According to him, there are exceptions for “pennant officers” and heads of the three arms of the government, executive, legislative, and judiciary, who use pennants or flags on their official cars.

Adejobi said, “The seal of their offices or ranks (for military or police) go with their numbers and pennants. Once its 6pm, the pennant must go down and their numbers covered, or when they are not in the car while the drivers move their cars.”

The police had severally placed a ban on the unauthorised use of unmarked vehicles and covered number plates across the country.