Nigerian Police Bows To Pressure, Make U-Turn Over Planned e-CMR Enforcement
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the electronic Cargo Movement Report (e-CMR), which was set to commence on July 29, 2024.
It was earlier reported that the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest had issued an ultimatum to Egbetokun, demanding the immediate reversal of a controversial directive regarding vehicle registration.
The directive mandates vehicle owners across the country to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate at a cost not less than N6,000.
NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun of the NBA Section on Public Interest issued the call in a letter directed to the Inspector General of Police.
The association questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS Certificates, stating that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices.
It demanded an immediate halt to the issuance and enforcement of the CMRIS Certificates, urging the Inspector General of Police to issue a directive stopping the practice nationwide.
They also called for the shutdown of the registration website and physical registration centres, with refunds to be made to those who had already paid.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IGP has ordered the suspension of its enforcement process for the massive enlightenment of Nigerians.
The statement reads, “Following the reconfiguration and commencement of the electronic central motor registry registration process (e-CMR), the Police has deemed it necessary to highlight 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.
“The e-CMR will provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as dedicated officers can access real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle on their tablets. Similarly, the e-CMR will prevent multiple registration of vehicles and serve as a database to collate biometric and other data of vehicle owners and individuals, adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security.
“Furthermore, 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 digitalize policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigeria residents.”
Adejobi explained that Egbetokun ordered the immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on July 29, 2024.
According to him, it will give ample opportunities for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.
“Members of the public are urged to obtain the digitalized CMR certificate online athttps://cmris.npf.gov.ng. For further inquiries, individuals can contact the 24/7 hotline (02018870133), CMR Command Centre at FHQ Abuja (08117777666, 09169892000) and FHQ Annex Lagos (08117777555, 09169891000). Technical support is also available at cmrtech@npfcmr.ng.
“In light of this, we seek the understanding and support of all well-meaning Nigerians and residents to key into the e-CMR system.
“In the same vein, the IGP charges all Police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement which will be done by only dedicated officers has been suspended till further notice,” he said.
