A N1,000 mandatory annual payment by all motorists for Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) verification has been introduced by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government on Tuesday.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a joint press conference.
Toriola said the 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 compliance with legal requirement which according to him is fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within transportation network.
He explained that the initiative was in accordance with the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 as amended, No. 101, Vol. 99; Section 73- (1).
According to him, the amended National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 states: “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.”
According to PM News Nigeria, he added that “To this end, the Federal Government has introduced the issuance of annual Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered vehicles.
“This certificate will serve as official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owners upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures.
“The POC will contain vital information including the vehicle’s registration details, such as, license number plate, model, year of manufacture in addition to owner’s name and address.
“Having critically reviewed the challenges encountered in ensuring promotion of Safety and Security of lives and property through the issuance of POC nationally and especially in our Dear State, the Joint Tax Board in its communiqué issued at the end of the emergency meeting held on 9th May, 2023 adopted and made a resolution that proof of ownership certificate (PoC) be issued to motorists on an annual basis nationwide,” he said.
He added, “We believe that the POC will help track the real time status and guarantee the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database and it is based on the safety and security it guaranteed that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved for its commencement in Lagos State, hence this briefing to enlighten the public,” he said.
Speaking on the merit, the Permanent Secretary stated that it would guarantee effective security administration, adding that the annual POC was specially printed and connected with other vehicle documents in the state.
He further explained that through the POC, statistics of vehicular population nation-wide could easily be obtained, while it would bring solution to minimisation of car theft and recovery of stolen vehicles, as well as streamline the fulfillment of uniform licensing scheme mandate.
Other benefits include; the states motor vehicle documents could easily be verified regardless of the issuing state; safety and security of vehicles and their owners, enhancement of National Vehicle database for national security and for planning and economic development.