Over one hundred official number plates have been confiscated from unauthorized individuals by the Taskforce Committee on the Retrieval of Government Official Number Plates.
This was revealed in the report submitted by the taskforce committee to the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Malam Bala Ibrahim, in Dutse.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Taskforce Committee, DC Tijjani Murtala, stated that after its inauguration, the committee embarked on sensitization, consultation, and enforcement in line with its mandate.
According to him, the taskforce committee is mandated to identify unauthorized government official number plates used by civil and public officers within the State.
He pointed out that, the committee was mandated to confiscate unauthorized government official number plates found on any vehicle, sensitize civil and public officers on the consequences of using official numbers plates on private vehicles as well as any other recommendation that may help government in taking a decision on the rampant misuse of the plates within the state.
“The finding revealed that, some of the Government official number-plates now in circulation, were issued to vehicles different from the ones on which they were being found”
Tijjani Murtala noted that, the abuse of the government official number plates constitute a security threats to the state, as criminals may use them to bypass security checks and carry out nefarious activities.
Some of the recommendations submitted to the SSG include Accordingly,government to consider re-registration of all official vehicles, official number plates should no longer be transferable and any vehicle other than the government vehicle which carry government official number plates shall be sanctioned accordingly.
The state government to also consider rebranding of its official number plates, ensure enforcement of law on any vehicle bearing covered number-plates except ones authorized by law.
Others also include automate all registered government number plates so as to have a central data base for security and accountability and joint taskforce on the abuse of government official number plates shall be maintained.
DC Tijjani Murtala therefore,commended the Jigawa state government for given members of the committee the opportunity to serve the state.
Responding, the Secretary to the state government , Malam Bala Ibrahim, commended the committee for submitting the report.
The SSG assured them that the state government would review the findings for possible implementation.
COV/USMAN MZ
