IGP Kayode Egbedokun
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has thrown more light on the intent behind the introduction of its yet to be implemented, Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), when it debunked insinuations associated with revenue generation saying it’s intended for general safety and security of citizens and the nation at large.
According to an e-signed press statement from Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the e-CMR will provide a firsthand database to the Force for curbing vehicular crimes as officers can access in real-time comprehensive data of every vehicle from 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 their vehicles thereby adding value to the national database and incident report portal generated from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards general security.
The release also clarifies saying: contrary to news making the round and insinuations, 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.
The process which was initially billed to begin from July 29, 2024, has been suspended indefinitely for proper and seamless transition. This is in line with the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s directive. According to the directive, the suspension is to allow for further enlightenment and education of stakeholders on the process, benefits and its effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes.
The e-CMR is intended to rejuvenate and digitalize motor vehicle registration system in the country and to significantly bolster its safety and security framework says Adejobi.
Earlier FPRO Adejobi had explained in a separate release that, the e-CMR is an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery saying the transition will be able to streamline the documentation and verification processes for vehicle ownership and related transactions, as stakeholders would by themselves impute their vehicular and relevant details digitally to generate their e-CMR certificate, as he enjoins them to duly comply.
Adejobi added saying that with the e-CMR, services such as change of ownership, change of license number, change of engine, and change of chassis or body of vehicle would become seamless as the e-CMR system would ensure the validation of vehicle genuineness and ownership, enhancing the ability to track and recover stolen vehicles effectively, as well as checkmate the purchase of stolen vehicles by innocent buyers.
With the suspended implementation of e-CMR, affected members of the public are enjoined to obtain the digitalized CMR certificate online at https://cmris.npf.gov.ng or contact the 24/7 hotline 02018870133; CMR Command Centre at FHQ Abuja 08117777666, 09169892000 and FHQ Annex Lagos 08117777555, 09169891000 for any assistance in that regard. He said there is also technical support at cmrtech@npfcmr.ng as none compliance will be severely dealt with when it eventually commences.
The IGP also warned his officers to desist from prematurely demanding for e-CMR certificates as a way of extorting or exploiting members of the public, saying such official misconduct will be punished appropriately as implementation of the e-CMR has been suspended till further notice.
