FG imposes N1,000 annual fee on all vehicle owners in Nigeria
By Business A.M.
Nigerian Vehicle owners will from July 2023, pay an annual fee of N1,000 to get a Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) verification recently introduced by the federal government.
AbdulHafiz Toriola, the permanent secretary, Lagos Ministry of Transportation, disclosed the commencement of the new policy at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Lagos,noting that the certificate which will come into force in the state in July ,would be part of requirements to be renewed annually.
Toriola said the Lagos State government had begun the implementation of the new initiative that aimed to streamline and enhance the process of vehicle ownership verification which is the “annual Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) in line with compliance with legal requirements fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within the transportation network.
The new policy means that owners of all categories of registered vehicles nationwide , will be mandated to get the Proof of Ownership Certificate annually, unlike what hitherto obtains when the vehicle owner only obtains proof of ownership of a vehicle after purchasing a used vehicle or changing the engine of a vehicle.
According to Toriola, the certificate upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures, will serve as part of official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owners.
He said the initiative was in accordance with the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 as amended, No. 101, Vol. 99; Section 73- (1) which states that ‘There shall be Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered Vehicles’. Section 73- (1-6) also added that ‘The commission shall establish and maintain a Central Data Base for Vehicles and drivers for the federation.“
The permanent secretary explained that the POC covers all classes of vehicles from motorcycle, to tricycle, to mini vehicles, saloon cars, all classes of trucks, articulated vehicles and such likes that conveys people or products from one point to the other.
He also stated that it will serve as official documentation of a vehicle’s legal containing vital information including the vehicle’s registration details, such as, licence number plate, model, year of manufacture in addition to owner’s name and address.
Toriola further disclosed that all states of the federation are expected to begin the implementation of the new policy, and each vehicle owner is expected to pay a minimum of N1,000 to procure the document.