The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba has banned all use of Police SPY Vehicle Number Plates by vehicle owners across the country without exceptions.
The development, IGP said, is irrespective of whether it is authorised or not as all authorisations were revoked indefinitely.
The order, he said, is necessary to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates.
The IGP directed police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with the directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order.
The IGP, in a statement on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi has directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to give full effect to the directives as contained above.
The IGP specifically directed the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use are confiscated henceforth but the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties.
He however warned that while carrying out the assignments, officers must ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices.
Adejobi said: “Other security agencies and members of the public are enjoined to cooperate with the Police in this regard as the moves are aimed at strengthening our internal security”.