The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an immediate suspension of the July 29 plan to commence the enforcement of the e-Central Motor Registry (e-CMR).
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Adejobi said the suspension was to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of the public on the process, benefits and effectiveness of e-CMR.
The police spokesman said the I-G had urged police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates.
According to him, officers found extorting or exploiting the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned.
Adejobi said the enforcement would be done by only dedicated officers from a date to be announced later.
He said the e-CMR was designed to address the challenges of vehicle related crimes and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.
Truthng reports that on July 13, the IG ordered the enforcement of the digitalised e-CMR as from July 29.
This, according to the police boss, is to modernise and digitize the motor vehicle registration system, bolstering the nation’s safety and security framework.
The e-CMR is an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, and operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
The transition to a digitalsed system, according to the police, would streamline the documentation and verification processes for vehicle ownership and related transactions.