Nigerian Police Suspend Controversial e-CMR Enforcement Amid Public Opposition

The enforcement of the controversial electronic central motor registry registration process (e-CMR) on vehicle owners was suspended by the Nigerian police on Sunday.

Initially, the police had planned to start enforcing the requirement on July 29, threatening sanctions against owners without the e-CMR.

However, the move was criticized by several Nigerians, with the Nigerian Bar Association giving the police a week to reverse their decision, Premium Times reported. Critics argued that issuing vehicle documents was not within the police's mandate.

The enforcement of the e-CMR, which was originally scheduled to be carried out by dedicated officers, has been postponed until further notice. Anyone caught exploiting the public under the pretense of lacking the e-CMR will face appropriate sanctions.

Following the criticism, police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi defended the decision to enforce the e-CMR certificate. Adejobi explained that the e-CMR would create a central database accessible to officers, which would help prevent vehicle-related crimes.

"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," he said, Premium Times reported.

Adejobi also mentioned that Police Chief Kayode Egbetokun suspended the certificate's enforcement for the "mass enlightenment" of Nigerians.

"The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024," he said.

"This is to give ample opportunity 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."

Adejobi noted that the police were urging all Nigerians and residents to embrace and support the e-CMR system. However, he shared that the IGP has instructed all police officers to refrain from demanding e-CMR certificates.

The Nigerian government is currently in the process of improving road safety, apart from switching vehicles from Premium Motor Spirit to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Last month, the federal government announced that Nigeria was all set to reduce the importation of Premium Motor Spirit by $4.4 billion every year with the help of CNG adaptation under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).